Project 57 Week 7: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation)

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw territory include Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek, and the Howe Sound watershed, with many people living in North Vancouver and West Vancouver (from About Our Nation). Úxwumixw is the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh word for village, though today the word is used for Nation (from About Our Nation).  

Prior to 1923 Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw was several different Bands (as defined by the Federal Government) with 26 reserves, and in 1923 it was voted on by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh members to come together and form Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (from About Our Nation). This past summer (2023) Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw celebrated the 100 anniversary of amalgamation day.  

Their language is known as Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Snichim, and is part of the Salishan language family (from About Our Nation ; The Sníchim Foundation). Traditionally an oral language, a writing system for Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Snichim was developed in 1990 (The Sníchim Foundation). 

You may have heard about the Seńákw development in the news. This developing is taking place on the village site of Seńákw, near False Creek. It was “an important hub for trade, commerce, social relationships, and cultural practices” however the land was illegally taken away from the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh in 1913 to facilitate settlement of the area (from History of the Seńákw lands). Since the 1960s Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Úxwumixw has been doing the work necessay to have the land returned (from History of the Seńákw lands). In her podcast Land Back, Gitxsan journalist Angela Sterritt talks with Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh members in episode 5, A Village Burned, about Seńákw. 

To learn more about Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, check out these resources: 

• City of Vancouver, First Peoples: A Guide for Newcomers
• Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, About Our Nation
• Squamish – Lil'wat Cultural Centre, History