Musqueam Through Time - Part 1
Summary
TLDRThe Musqueam people, indigenous to the Fraser River and Vancouver's inlets, have lived there for thousands of years. Known for their rich traditions of fishing, weaving, and ceremonies, they defended their territory from invaders and adapted to new challenges brought by European explorers, diseases, and settlers. Their deep spiritual connection to the land and waters remains integral, as does their commitment to preserving fishing rights and cultural practices. Today, they continue to honor their heritage and protect their resources for future generations.
Takeaways
- 🏡 The Musqueam people have lived along the Fraser River and Vancouver's inlets for thousands of years, with a rich history tied to the land.
- 🌾 The Musqueam are traditionally a hunting, trapping, and fishing people, with a bountiful food supply at the mouth of the Fraser River.
- 🏰 Historically, the Musqueam were known as the 'people of the rivergrass,' and their location at the river delta echoes a global pattern of the wealthiest living in such areas.
- 🛡️ The Musqueam were vigilant against invaders, using a system of warriors and lookouts to protect their territory and prepare for potential battles.
- 🧵 The Musqueam are known for their unique weaving techniques, using mountain goat wool and other materials to create blankets with distinct cultural designs.
- 🎨 Weaving, once a forgotten art, was revived by Musqueam women in the 1980s, preserving a vital part of their cultural heritage.
- 🌲 Cedar weaving and harvesting are traditional practices being revived by the Musqueam, with a focus on sustainable and respectful use of natural resources.
- 🤝 The Musqueam have a history of peaceful interaction with newcomers, but also a readiness to defend their territory and way of life.
- 🦠 Disease in the mid-1800s had a devastating impact on the Musqueam and other First Nations, leading to significant changes in their traditional lifestyle.
- 🎭 Despite external pressures, the Musqueam have maintained their cultural practices, including ceremonies and rituals that connect them to the land and their ancestors.
- 🎣 The Musqueam are actively involved in the management and protection of fish stocks in the Fraser River, reflecting their long-standing relationship with the river and its resources.
- 🏛️ The Musqueam have been successful in asserting their Aboriginal and treaty fishing rights through legal battles, setting precedents for indigenous rights in Canada and beyond.
Q & A
Who are the Musqueam people?
-The Musqueam people, also known as the Musum, are an indigenous nation who have lived along the Fraser River and throughout Vancouver's inlets for thousands of years. They are traditionally known as the people of the rivergrass.
Why are river deltas significant to the Musqueam people?
-River deltas are significant to the Musqueam people because they have historically been areas of abundant food supply. This is similar to the pattern observed globally, where the richest nations lived at river deltas.
What role did the Musqueam warriors and lookouts play in their community?
-The Musqueam warriors and lookouts were responsible for the defense of their territory. They would run to various village sites to inform the heads of families about incoming guests, determining whether they were friends or enemies.
What is the significance of the 'gray wall' mentioned in the script?
-The 'gray wall', also known as Point Grey, was a landmark used as a warning for potential invaders. It was advised to stay away or go around it unless coming in peace and bearing gifts, as the Musqueam people were prepared for battle.
How did the Musqueam people maintain their culture and traditions despite contact with newcomers?
-The Musqueam people maintained their culture and traditions by adapting to new circumstances, such as working as farmers and fishermen, while retaining their cultural ways and spiritual teachings. They also adapted their ceremonies to continue practicing them despite restrictions.
What was the significance of weaving in Musqueam culture?
-Weaving was a significant art form in Musqueam culture, with unique designs for spiritual articles of clothing like mountain goat wool blankets and robes. The art of weaving was revived in the early 1980s by Musqueam women.
What traditional materials were used in Musqueam weaving, and how have they adapted over time?
-Traditionally, Musqueam weaving used mountain goat hair and dog hair. Today, they use sheep wool mixed with other materials like finely beaten cedar bark to continue the weaving tradition.
How do the Musqueam people's traditional harvesting practices of cedar relate to their current circumstances?
-Due to the scarcity of cedar in their now urban territory, the Musqueam people need to travel at least an hour away to find the bark they need for traditional harvesting. They still use traditional techniques that leave the trees standing.
What impact did diseases in the mid-1800s have on the Musqueam people and other First Nations?
-Diseases in the mid-1800s took an enormous toll on the Musqueam people and other First Nations, significantly impacting their populations and way of life.
How have the Musqueam people been involved in the recognition of Aboriginal ancestral and treaty fishing rights?
-The Musqueam people have been on the front lines in getting Aboriginal ancestral and treaty fishing rights acknowledged, thanks to the 1990 Sparrow decision, which set the groundwork for Aboriginal rights across Canada and influenced indigenous rights globally.
What is the current state of fishing for the Musqueam people, and how does it compare to the past?
-Fishing remains an important tradition for the Musqueam people, but there have been challenges such as a drop in fish stocks. They continue to fish and patrol the Fraser's waters to ensure sustainable practices, maintaining a connection to the river that has nourished them for centuries.
Outlines
🌊 The Rivergrass People and Their History
The Musqueam people, known as the 'people of the rivergrass,' have lived along the Fraser River and Vancouver's inlets for thousands of years. Rich in resources, their land provided a bountiful food supply. As skilled hunters, trappers, and fishermen, they thrived by harvesting salmon. They spoke Hun'qum'i'num' and were part of the Coast Salish cultural group. Despite welcoming peaceful guests, they defended their territory against invaders. Their warriors were physically fit and always on alert. When fur trader Simon Fraser arrived in 1808, the Musqueam, wary of European explorers, attacked to protect their territory. Their villages were strategically placed to access resources and defend their land, with a strong community structure ensuring the preservation of their people and culture.
🧶 Revival of Traditional Weaving
Traditional weaving, a significant aspect of Musqueam culture, saw a resurgence in the early 1980s. Using materials like mountain goat hair and cedar bark, Musqueam women revived the ancient art of Salish weaving. Cedar bark weaving also made a comeback, with traditional harvesting methods being practiced despite the scarcity of cedar in urban areas. These techniques produce various objects such as baskets and mats. The Musqueam people adapted to changes brought by disease, missionaries, and the Gold Rush while maintaining their cultural practices. Their spiritual connection to the land and water remains strong, with ceremonies in longhouses and outdoor potlatches marking significant life events.
🎣 Fishing Traditions and Rights
The Musqueam people's deep connection to the Fraser River continues through their fishing traditions. Families have fished specific spots for generations, passing down the practice. The 1990 Sparrow decision recognized Aboriginal fishing rights, setting a precedent for indigenous rights worldwide. Despite challenges like declining fish stocks, the Musqueam continue to fish, emphasizing the river's integral role in their culture. Their generational bond with the river underscores its importance in their identity, ensuring that the Musqueam will always be tied to the Fraser River.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Musqueam
💡Fraser River
💡Weaving
💡Salmon
💡Simon Fraser
💡Cedar
💡Potlatch
💡Sparrow Decision
💡Longhouse
💡Cultural Revival
Highlights
The Musqueam people have lived in the Fraser River area and throughout Vancouver's inlets for thousands of years.
The Musqueam were known for their rich food supply, particularly salmon, and engaged in hunting, trapping, and fishing.
The Musqueam are traditional Hun'qum'i'num-speaking people, part of the Coast Salish cultural group.
Historically, the Musqueam defended their territory against invaders and were vigilant in protecting their resources.
In 1808, fur trader Simon Fraser was the first European to travel overland and down the Fraser River, leading to conflict with the Musqueam.
The Musqueam had 40 village sites across present-day Greater Vancouver, which helped them access resources and protect their territory.
The Musqueam's leadership and government structure were crucial for the protection and education of their community.
Mountain goat wool blankets and robes were significant cultural and spiritual items for the Musqueam, with unique designs identifying family and community.
Salish weaving, once a forgotten art, was revived by Musqueam women in the early 1980s.
Traditional materials for weaving included mountain goat hair, dog hair, cedar bark, and other natural fibers.
Cedar bark weaving is experiencing a resurgence, with Musqueam people revisiting traditional harvesting methods.
Musqueam people adapted to changes brought by disease, missionaries, and the Gold Rush while retaining their cultural practices.
Musqueam ceremonies, including potlatches and longhouse rituals, were adapted to continue despite bans by missionaries.
The Fraser River remains central to Musqueam life, providing physical and spiritual sustenance despite modern challenges to fish stocks.
The 1990 Sparrow decision recognized the Musqueam's Aboriginal fishing rights, influencing indigenous rights globally.
Transcripts
we have always lived here since the
beginning of time we are the musum
people of the rivergrass and we've been
here on the Fraser River and throughout
Vancouver's inlets for thousands of
years history has described that every
nation of the world that those who were
the richest lived at the river deltas
the Roman Empire likewise with us here
in
musim as long as we can remember there
was a rich food supply here at the
Fraser's mouth and we hunted trapped and
fish the rivers and oceans harvesting
salmon we are traditional hunt kinum
speaking people and are descended from
the cultural group known as the coish
here in the Pacific
Northwest while we welcome peaceful
guests to our territory we also kept the
lookout for Invaders Northern tribes
looking for slaves or
resources when they'd come down they
always used to say you got to you got to
stay away stay right at the gray wall
that's what they call point greo there
the big gray wall you have to go have to
go around it if you go up that River
unless you're coming in uh peace and
bearing gifts uh you're in for a battle
because their Battleground is just down
by the Molly one of our old villages
there they found uh skulls and
arrowheads and all artifacts of the the
battles that went on there
we had our various warriors and Lookouts
and these individuals would run to the
various Village sites to inform those
heads of families that we had guests
coming and they would inform them
whether or not those guests were indeed
friend or
F you were always
prepared that they were the enemy
approaching
these Runners were our Warriors they
were individuals who had to be
physically fit because our lives
depended upon
it but in 1808 a new kind of visitor
arrived fur Trader Simon Fraser was the
first to come Overland and down our
River previous experiences with European
explorers kept Vancouver and gallano had
taught us to be wary of these strangers
so when Fraser arrived we
attacked in those days the musum had
some 40 Village sites spread out across
miles of present day Greater Vancouver
this allowed us to access the resources
and protect our
territory and the Warriors there from
each Village site
would uh amass in in strategic locations
ready to do battle and our government
structure depended upon it because we
could not lose our young and we could
not lose our women who were basically
the true historians of our community
they were the ones who were educating
our
children the power of our leadership was
represented in these mountain goat wool
blankets and robes unique to the co-
saish people and the mus
have always had their own distinct
designs for these spiritual articles of
clothing the blanket that the individual
would wear would be identifiable to his
place in his home his family his
community these more complex blankets
the ones that they wore when they
traveled and went to
meet King George in England would be the
best dressed that's what they're wearing
them for it's when we get ready to go
somewhere we wear our suits and our best
clothes and that's what they did
once a forgotten art weaving was brought
back to life by musim women in the early
1980s my grandfather one day said to me
you want to see some really nice stuff
and I said sure I must have been maybe
10 or
11 he went upstairs and he came down
with a a bag and in the bag he had an
old what they call SW blanket and it was
made from goat hair and uh dog hair and
it was a weaving like I had never seen
before and that's really where the whole
idea of Salish weaving for me came
around the story of who we are is woven
into the
blankets today we use sheepo however of
course what they were using were
mountain goat um but it was also mixed
with a dog hair different stayle
material um Cedar beaten very finely and
it might be the core of what the hair of
the mountain go would wrap
around cedar bark weaving has also been
making a comeback and today musqueam
people are revisiting the traditional
ways of harvesting
Cedar including the blessing of the
site due to the scarcity of Cedar in our
now Urban territory today we need to
travel at least an hour away to find the
bark we
need here our people strip the bark in
the traditional way a technique that can
be hard to master but ultimately leaves
the trees
standing good
one once gathered and dried these Cedar
strips will be used to make a variety of
traditional
objects like baskets bers and
mats Traditions like weaving continued
for many years after contact as we
continue to trade with the
newcomers but all of that changed with
the coming of disease in the mid 1800s
which took an enormous toll on all First
Nations then missionaries and the Gold
Rush followed as resources were
extracted all around us musan people
learned to adapt working as farmers and
fishermen while retaining our cultural
ways and spiritual
teachings we were fortunate we didn't
have a priest residing in our community
because the priests would only come in
the
summertime so when they banned and uh
the Potlatch and outlawed it our people
of the past were quite
smart they moved their summer ceremony
and merged it along with our winter
ceremony so that they could continue to
practice
nonstop uh what they have been
practicing for thousands and thousands
of
years beyond our long housee ceremonies
we had a spiritual connection to the
land and water around us the ocean
Rivers and Creeks fed us both physically
and
spiritually these bathing rituals are
important to musim people even
today combined with sacred dance song
and ritual in our long houses we have
always found a balance of mind body and
spirit we had two kinds of ceremony won
the winter ceremony with the long house
it was somewhat of a secret
society which only those people who were
initiated into it participated and
attended but also as well they had pot
latches in the summertime whereby
another ceremony where our masks were
used in the outdoor ceremony to Mark the
occasion of marriages namings memorials
uh Coming of Age within that spiritual
rights of Passage that allows you to
indeed reach to the other
senses that the Creator provided to you
that you know no longer you you almost
start
to see with your ears and hear with your
eyes that's the only way I can sort of
describe
it stretching some, 1400 km from its
source in northern BC the Fraser is one
of Canada's longest rivers and is the
heart and soul of the musan
people while technology has brought a
lot of change to our people we're still
tied to this river that has nourished us
for
centuries today like everywhere in the
world fish stocks are threatened and so
these Fisheries officers from musam and
toan First Nations Patrol the Fraser's
Waters to ensure that the right salmon
stocks are being fished I know this year
there's been a huge drop in the number
of Sakai on the river and so far only a
brief spring salmon run has been open to
fishing these mus grean people are
continuing a fishing tradition which has
run in their families for
centuries barbecue time fishing this
spot
for 22
years before that was my grandfather
before that was his his
father it's done our family well over
the
you know many many generations since
we've been here and uh hope to have it
for another 100 years to come for my
children and my children's
children musim has long been on the
front lines in getting Aboriginal
ancestrial and treaty fishing rights
acknowledged thanks to the 1990 Sparrow
decision it is now a part of the
Canadian
Constitution when we went to court we
said very strongly that our Aboriginal
right to fish is something that's been
here from time in Memorial and we went
through all of the the arguments and the
Supreme Court of Canada came down on our
side of
this the sparrow case set the the
groundwork for for abinal rights across
the country and I think throughout the
world because there's been people from
throughout the world indigenous people
coming and asking how they could could
come to the same place in their uh
communities I now been fishing on the
river here and on the coast of BC for uh
47 years now I started with my dad at 8
years of age and uh every year
since it's it's not
just not just salmon it's we're somewhat
in a decline in other stocks here
sturgeon
Hooligans they were a big part of our
our diet throughout the year and that's
now no more
more with
any any ethnic group in the world that
when you have a a lifelong and
generational
connection it it it becomes a part of
you and and this River certainly is a
part of us and it always will be
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