Musqueam hosted a naming ceremony Tuesday afternoon to formally open the new tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ residence area.
tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ — which translates to 'The Houses of Ones Belonging to the Saltwater' — was initially named Pacific Residence by UBC before Musqueam gifted the residence area with hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ names in spring 2021.
Musqueam also gifted hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ names to individual buildings: təməs leləm̓ (Sea Otter House), sqimək̓ʷ leləm̓ (Octopus House), sɬewət̕ leləm̓ (Herring House), q̓əlɬaləməcən leləm̓ (Orca House) and qʷta:yθən leləm̓ (Sturgeon House).
Musqueam Elder Larry Grant led Tuesday’s ceremony where he spoke of the cultural significance of each of the buildings’ names. For example, q̓əlɬaləməcən leləm̓ refers to the black fish that will push those who fall overboard at sea back to shore.
Grant also called on four individuals — Musqueam Chief yəχʷyaχʷələq Wayne Sparrow, Councillor for Musqueam qiyəplenəxʷ Howard Grant, UBC Chancellor xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl Steven Point and UBC President Santa Ono — as witnesses of the naming who have the responsibility to recount the day’s proceedings.
In speeches of their own, each of the four witnesses spoke of the importance of language and names.
Councillor Grant called Tuesday’s ceremony a “validation of work taking place” and said residents of the new residence buildings have a responsibility to understand the meaning behind their names.
“Don’t rely on what’s just written on a plaque. The English language can’t convey the full meaning,” he said.
Point called on residents to learn how to pronounce their building names, noting that he had to learn English words throughout his life. “Now you will learn our words.”
In an interview before the ceremony began, Andrew Parr, the associate vice-president of Student Housing and Community Services, said UBC Housing planned to install storytelling boards about the significance of each buildings’ name in its respective lobby — something present in Totem Park residence buildings.
The ceremony also included a performance by drummers xʷəleyš Alec Dan and yəc̓ec̓ə John Stogan and a thank you to Kelly Cannell, the Musqueam artist who designed the artwork on the walkway coverings between the buildings.
Following each speech or performance, a group of Musqueam community members and UBC leadership gave the speaker or performer coins to show their thanks.
Musqueam and university leaders also unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ in a separate ceremony led by UBC.