Musqueam Through Time - Part 2

Musqueam Nation

16 May 201206:00

Summary

TLDRThe Musqueam people have a rich history of fishing and occupying their lands, with archaeological evidence dating back 9,000 years. Musqueam researcher Wayne Point collaborates with UBC's Museum of Anthropology to uncover and analyze artifacts, revealing an ancient culture's sophisticated lifestyle. Musqueam artist Susan Point draws inspiration from these findings, creating contemporary artwork that reflects their heritage. The Musqueam community is experiencing a cultural revival, with language programs for all ages to preserve their traditions and connect with their ancestors' way of life.

Takeaways

🏞️ The Musqueam people have a long history of fishing and occupying their lands, with archaeological evidence dating back 9,000 years.
🔍 Modern archaeological digs near the Musqueam band office have uncovered artifacts dating back 1200 years, indicating a rich cultural heritage.
🗺️ As one moves up the Fraser River, the age of the archaeological sites increases, with the oldest sites dating back 9,000 years.
🏺 The artifacts found, such as jewellery, spears, and arrowheads, reflect the sophisticated lifestyle of the Musqueam ancestors.
📐 The process of analyzing artifacts involves detailed work, including weighing, measuring, and categorizing materials like lithic or bone.
🎨 Musqueam artist Susan Point has been inspired by ancient artifacts to create contemporary art, including welcome figures at Vancouver Airport.
🌐 The Musqueam territory is acknowledged at Vancouver International Airport, emphasizing the connection to their ancestral lands.
👥 The Musqueam community has a warrior society that performs songs and dances to keep their traditions alive and engage both young and old.
📚 There has been a cultural revival in the Musqueam community over the past 40 years, with a focus on language and traditions.
👶 A Musqueam language program teaches children from preschool, integrating language with cultural practices and values.
👵 The Musqueam language is not just for the young; it is also being taught to adults to ensure its continued use and significance in their community.

Q & A

How long have the Musqueam people been fishing and occupying their lands?
-The Musqueam people have been fishing and occupying their lands for thousands of years, with the oldest sites dating back to 9,000 years.
What is the significance of the archaeological dig mentioned in the script?
-The archaeological dig is significant as it reveals artifacts that date back to about 1200 years, providing insights into the long history of the Musqueam people in the area.
What type of artifacts have been found at the Musqueam site?
-Artifacts found at the Musqueam site include jewelry, spears, arrowheads, and ancient artistry, which speak to the rich lifestyle that the ancestors enjoyed.
How are the artifacts analyzed at the Musqueam site?
-The artifacts are analyzed through a process that involves identifying their material, weight, measurements, and type, whether they are made of lithic (stone) or bone.
What is the inspiration behind the artwork of Musqueam artist Susan Point?
-Susan Point's artwork is inspired by the elegant design of ancient Musqueam artifacts, such as the spindle whorl.
Why is the Musqueam welcome figure at the Vancouver Airport significant?
-The Musqueam welcome figure at the Vancouver Airport is significant because it represents the traditional territory of the Musqueam people and serves as a reminder of their historical presence when visitors arrive.
How does the Musqueam warrior society preserve their traditions?
-The Musqueam warrior society preserves their traditions by presenting West Coast songs and dances to the public, keeping the community connected to their past.
What changes have occurred in the Musqueam community over the last 40 years?
-Over the last 40 years, the Musqueam community has experienced a cultural revival, which is flourishing today, including the establishment of a language program and the teaching of traditional practices.
What is the purpose of the Musqueam language program for children?
-The Musqueam language program for children aims not only to teach the traditional language but also to instill cultural teachings and lifestyle practices, ensuring the preservation of their heritage.
Why is the Musqueam language important to the community?
-The Musqueam language is crucial to the community as it is not just a means of communication but also a lifestyle and a carrier of cultural knowledge and traditions.
How does the Musqueam community engage with younger generations to preserve their history and culture?
-The Musqueam community engages with younger generations by teaching them the ancient language and involving them in cultural practices, ensuring that the youth understand and carry forward their heritage.

Outlines

00:00

🏞️ Musqueam Land and Cultural Heritage

This paragraph delves into the deep history of the Musqueam people's presence on their lands, highlighting archaeological findings that date back 1200 years. It discusses the progression of these findings along the river, with the oldest sites near Yale tracing back 9000 years. The paragraph also emphasizes the rich lifestyle of the ancestors, as evidenced by the jewelry, spears, and arrowheads found. The process of analyzing these artifacts is described, including their categorization by material type. Furthermore, it touches on the cultural revival and the influence of ancient artifacts on contemporary Musqueam art, as exemplified by the work of artist Susan Point. The paragraph concludes with a mention of Musqueam's presence in modern Vancouver, including the Musqueam welcome figures at the airport and the UBC Museum, symbolizing their enduring connection to their traditions.

05:02

🌱 Musqueam Cultural Revival and Language Preservation

The second paragraph focuses on the cultural revival within the Musqueam community, which has been ongoing for the past 40 years. It underscores the importance of the Musqueam language program, which starts in preschool and extends to adults, aiming to keep the language alive and vibrant. The language program is described as not just teaching the language but also instilling traditional values and practices. The paragraph also highlights the community's efforts to educate the younger generation about their history and culture, fostering a sense of pride and identity. The speaker expresses a desire for outsiders to understand and appreciate the strength and richness of the Musqueam nation, hoping that interactions with the community will leave a positive and lasting impression.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Musqueam

The Musqueam are a Coast Salish First Nations band located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. In the context of the video, Musqueam refers to the indigenous people who have a long history of fishing and occupying the lands around the Fraser River. The script mentions archaeological digs revealing artifacts dating back thousands of years, indicating the deep roots of the Musqueam people in the area.

💡Archaeological dig

An archaeological dig is an excavation conducted systematically to recover artifacts, ecofacts, and other remains of past human life and activity. In the video, a dig near the band office is uncovering artifacts that are dated back to about 1200 years, showcasing the long-standing presence and activities of the Musqueam people in the region.

💡Artifacts

Artifacts are items made or shaped by humans, often providing insight into past cultures and societies. The script discusses the discovery of jewelry, spears, and arrowheads, which are indicative of the rich lifestyle and artistry of the Musqueam ancestors. These artifacts are crucial for understanding the history and culture of the Musqueam people.

💡Fraser River

The Fraser River is a major river in western Canada, significant to the Musqueam people as it has been a source of sustenance and a center of their traditional activities. The video script mentions that as one moves up the Fraser River, the archaeological sites become older, highlighting the river's importance in the history of the Musqueam.

💡UBC Museum of Anthropology

The UBC Museum of Anthropology is a museum at the University of British Columbia that focuses on the arts and cultures of the First Nations. In the video, Musqueam researcher Wayne Point works with the museum to identify and analyze artifacts found during the archaeological dig, emphasizing the collaboration between the Musqueam community and academic institutions.

💡Ancient artistry

Ancient artistry refers to the artistic skills and techniques used by people in the past. The script mentions 'ancient artistry' in relation to the discovery of intricately designed artifacts like spindle whorls, which have inspired contemporary Musqueam artist Susan Point, demonstrating the continuity of artistic tradition among the Musqueam people.

💡Cultural revival

Cultural revival refers to the process of revitalizing or renewing the cultural practices, values, and traditions of a community. The video discusses the cultural revival that began 40 years ago at Musqueam, which is flourishing today. This revival includes language programs, traditional teachings, and the preservation of cultural practices, ensuring the continuity of Musqueam culture.

💡Musqueam language program

The Musqueam language program is an educational initiative aimed at preserving and teaching the traditional language of the Musqueam people. The script highlights that the program starts in preschool and extends to adults, emphasizing the importance of language as a key component of the Musqueam lifestyle and identity.

💡Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport is mentioned in the script as being located within the traditional territory of the Musqueam people. The airport features Musqueam welcome figures, which serve as a reminder of the Musqueam presence and history in the area, and as a symbol of the welcoming nature of the Musqueam people to visitors.

💡Musqueam warrior society

The Musqueam warrior society is a cultural group within the Musqueam community that presents traditional songs and dances to the public. The script mentions this society as a way to keep the community connected to their past while also showcasing their culture to a broader audience, thus maintaining cultural heritage and traditions.

💡Traditional territory

Traditional territory refers to the land that a particular indigenous group has historically occupied and used. The video script emphasizes that the lands around the Fraser River, including the area around Vancouver International Airport and the UBC Museum, are part of the Musqueam traditional territory, signifying the deep historical connection of the Musqueam people to these lands.

Highlights

The Musqueam people have a long history of fishing and occupying their lands, with evidence dating back 1200 years.

Archaeological digs near the Musqueam band office reveal artifacts from over a thousand years ago.

The oldest sites near Yale date back 9,000 years, showcasing the ancient lifestyle of the Musqueam ancestors.

Ancient artifacts such as jewelry, spears, and arrowheads reflect the rich culture of the Musqueam people.

The processing and analysis of artifacts involve detailed examination of weight, measurements, and material types.

The spindle whorl's elegant design has inspired contemporary Musqueam artist Susan Point.

Musqueam welcome figures at Vancouver Airport and UBC Museum represent the community's heritage.

The Fisher symbol held by one of the welcome figures is a powerful Musqueam cultural emblem.

The Musqueam warrior society presents traditional songs and dances to the public, keeping the community connected to its past.

Cultural revival at Musqueam has been ongoing for the last 40 years, with programs flourishing in the community.

A language program for Musqueam children begins in preschool, teaching traditional language and lifestyle.

The Musqueam language program teaches not just language but also traditional practices and values.

The ancient Musqueam language is being taught to adults to maintain its significance in modern times.

The Musqueam community emphasizes the importance of language and culture to younger generations.

The Musqueam people aim to educate others about their history and culture through interaction and shared experiences.

The Musqueam nation takes pride in its strong cultural identity and honest, good-hearted people.