Standing tall at the eastern entrance to campus, the Musqueam Post, sʔi:ɬqəy̓ qeqən (double-headed serpent post), welcomes all visitors to UBC.
The Musqueam and the University of British Columbia acknowledged their developing partnership on April 6th, 2016, with the dedication of a striking cedar post installed prominently on the Point Grey campus, which is located on traditional, ancestral and unceded Musqueam territory.
Carved by talented Musqueam artist Brent Sparrow Jr., the post’s iconography depicts the fascinating story behind the Musqueam’s traditional name: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm.
The story goes that a long time ago, a double-headed serpent (sʔi:ɬqəy̓) fertilized this particular area, resulting in a unique plant—məθkʷəy̓—flourishing. Subsequently, the people themselves became known as xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam—People of the məθkʷəy̓ plant).
“We cherish the relationship between the University and the Musqueam,” said Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow when the post was installed. “As UBC is on our traditional territory, it’s important that we work together closely to share our culture and look for opportunities to work together.”
The Musqueam post faces east toward the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre and the campus entrance, at the foot of a cascading water feature at University Boulevard and East Mall.
“This beautiful post will serve as a permanent welcome to all visitors to these grounds and as a reminder of our relationship with the Musqueam people, who were here long before UBC’s history began,” said then Interim President Martha Piper. “Its dedication, one of the closing events of UBC’s Centennial year, points towards renewed—and stronger—relationships in the future.”
Brent Sparrow Jr. speaks about the Musqueam Post
“This qeqən (post) tells the story of the origin of our name xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam).
The old people spoke of a small lake called xʷməm̓qʷe:m (Camosun Bog) where the sʔi:ɬqəy̓ (double-headed serpent) originated. They were warned as youth to be cautious and not go near or they would surely die. This sʔi:ɬqəy̓ was so massive its winding path from the lake to the stal̕əw̓ (river) became the creek flowing through Musqueam to this day. Everything the serpent passed over died and from its droppings bloomed a new plant, the məθkʷəy̓. For this reason the people of long ago named that place xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam – place of the məθkʷəy̓).
This qeqən represents our xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) ancestors and our ongoing connection to them and this land through their teachings. The figure is holding the sʔi:ɬqəy̓’s tail to showcase this sχʷəy̓em̓’s (ancient history) passage through generations, relating how we became known as xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people – People of the məθkʷəy̓ plant. The scalloping reflects the sʔi:ɬqəy̓’s path and trigons represent the unique məθkʷəy̓ plant. The sʔi:ɬqəy̓’s stomach is said to have been as big as a storage basket, designed here as an oval. I drew upon these traditional design elements to depict this rich history.”
Indigenous Outdoor Art Series: Find out where you can view Indigenous art on campus and the story behind each piece by checking out this interactive map.