Fighting to protect culture and history

On April 18, an open letter was sent to Premier Christy Clark and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robinson from the Musqueam making it abundantly clear their position on a condo development that is going forward on an ancient village and midden site, which the Musqueam say has been continuously occupied since the time the first pyramids were built in Egypt. It is known today as the Marpole Midden, a Canadian Heritage Site since 1938. The Musqueam state that the site contains intact remains. They say that just because part of the site has already been disturbed for commercial and transportation ventures, like a body shop and a bridge, it should not be an excuse to continue to desecrate the sacred ground where their ancestors lay. The site also contains priceless artifacts dating back 4,000 years. The Musqueam believe the province and the city have put commercial interests above the “just and right assertion of the Musqueam that the site not be developed.” Interests of third parties, the Musqueam say, have been granted protection rather than the culture and history of the Musueam people. Said Union of BC Indian Chiefs President Grand Chief Stewart Phillip: “The fact that the BC Government and the City of Vancouver have provided permits to build condos on ancestral land is horrifically offensive and unfathomable.” The Musqueam have put out their hands out to work in cooperation with the province and city to find solutions to the situation. “To ignore the Musqueam’s offer is to challenge not only the determination of Musqueam’s position to protect the entire site, but a challenge to all First Nations in B.C.,” Phillip concluded.