Kitsilano ( / k ɪ t s ə ˈ l æ n oʊ / kit-sə- LAN -oh ) is a neighbourhood located in the city of Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada. Kitsilano is named after Squamish chief August Jack Khatsahlano, and the neighbourhood is located in Vancouver's West Side along the south shore of English Bay , between the neighbourhoods of West Point Grey and Fairview . The area is mostly residential with two main commercial areas, West 4th Avenue and West Broadway , known for their retail stores, restaurants and organic food markets.
131-603: The area has been home to the Squamish people for thousands of years, sharing the territory with the Musqueam and the Tsleil-Waututh Peoples. All three Nations moved throughout their shared traditional territory, using the resources it provided for fishing, hunting, trapping and gathering. The name 'Kitsilano' is derived from X̱ats'alanexw , the Squamish name of chief August Jack Khatsahlano . In 1911, an amendment to
262-436: A siy̓ám̓ , which loosely translates as "highly respected person". This person would act in the best interest of his family and make decisions based on the group consensus of the family he represented. The siy̓ám̓ has been described as "...the best talker – not chairman, (our people) have no chairman – but man who says the most wise things". The siy̓ám̓ was usually chosen by factors which included his status and respect within
393-455: A " potlatch ", a word meaning to give that comes from the Chinook Jargon , is where a host or host family invites guests to participate in societal events. A person's position in the community is based on how much they gave of themselves to their people. As such, potlatches are hosted where gifts and material wealth is shared with the community. Food is prepared and a large feast is given to
524-481: A "loop" at Arbutus & Cornwall, which made "Greer's Beach", as the area first became known after the holdout settler who lived there, easy to get to from the new city, then still mostly contained on the downtown peninsula. With the opening of the Lulu Island Railway interurban line from Granville & Pacific to Richmond via Seventh Avenue and Arbutus Street to Kerrisdale in the 1890s, more of Kitsilano
655-499: A building that has five or more storeys, and 4,990 apartment or flat in a duplex . Single-detached houses are also popular with 24,435 single-detached houses located in Richmond. Other types of buildings include 1,585, semi-detached houses 15,945 row houses , 20 other single-attached houses, and 45 movable dwellings. The average price of a detached home in Richmond is $ 1,581,600. Richmond has an immigrant population of 60 percent,
786-518: A deal had been approved whereby the city would purchase the entire parcel of land from the Musqueam Band and Canada Lands Company for $ 59.2 million. The Musqueam band has since brought a lawsuit against the City of Richmond, claiming they sold it under duress. The lawsuit remains dormant and it is the understanding of Coun. Harold Steves that the lawsuit will remain dormant unless the city wants to develop
917-572: A great deal of change in the past few hundred years since contact and colonization started. The history of the Residential Schools and the potlatch ban was a part where the Canadian government tried to exterminate their cultural practices. This caused decades of effects with the near extinction of their language, the assimilation into mainstream Western society, and inter-generational trauma. Despite these points in their history, much of their culture
1048-598: A home in Kitsilano in the backroom of a small office on the SE corner of Broadway at Cypress, and shortly after that at 2007 4th Ave. and Maple (now 2009 due to address change), sharing the upstairs office with SPEC. The first offices of the Green Party of British Columbia were originally located in the home of longtime party leader Adriane Carr and her husband Paul George on Trafalgar Street, near 6th, in early 1983, before being moved by
1179-456: A land area of 128.87 km (49.76 sq mi) and a population density of 1,629.1/km (4,219.2/sq mi) in 2021. The average size of a household in Richmond is 2.6 persons. Most households have a household size of 2 persons, and the least households have 5 or more persons. Apartment buildings are the most common structural type of dwellings, made up of 18,590 apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys, 15,475 apartment in
1310-612: A long history in Steveston dating back to the 1800s. Following Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor , the Anti-Japanese sentiment grew, and this community was devastated as residents of Japanese descent were relocated to internment camps in the BC Interior and Alberta and their property sold at auction. The 2021 census found that English was spoken as mother tongue by 31.31% of the population. The next most common mother tongue language
1441-480: A method preserving salmon through canning . Canned salmon are jarred or pickled, then stored for winter months. Richmond, British Columbia Richmond is a city in the coastal Lower Mainland region of British Columbia , Canada. Mainly a suburban city, it occupies almost the entirety of Lulu Island (excluding Queensborough ), between the two estuarine distributaries of the Fraser River . Encompassing
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#17328375668091572-448: A minority language in its own lands. When the Canadian government enforced an assimilationist policies regarding their culture and language, a residential school was set up in the village of Eslha7an with children coming from many Squamish villages, plus some Church officials sending children to another school in Sechelt . At the school, a home for many children 10 months out of the year,
1703-491: A number of Vancouver's annual festivals and events: Kitsilano is home to 17 parks, which include six playgrounds, an off-leash dog park, and Kitsilano Beach , one of Vancouver's most popular beaches. Along with the beach itself, Kitsilano Beach Park also contains a franchise restaurant , Kitsilano Pool, and the Kitsilano Showboat. The Kitsilano Showboat, operating since 1935, is essentially an open-air amphitheatre with
1834-503: A rite of passage would most likely be taken from a deceased ancestor of the family. Before being given this name, children would be referred to by "nicknames" or "pet names", which would be kept until they attained their "ancestral name". These ancestral names are considered important, as many have been passed down through generations. It is only through a blood connection to the ancestor that names were passed down. Places and resources considered property were much less clearly defined than in
1965-467: A role in maintaining the showboat since the mid-1940s. As of 2006, she is the president of the non-profit Kitsilano Showboat Society. As of September 2018, there was an attempt to reconcile with the Indigenous communities whose land was taken during the expansion of Vancouver. By renaming the beaches and parks, one of which included Kitsilano Beach, Stuart Mackinnon park board chairman was going to work with
2096-405: A single cedar dug-out canoe. Families would travel to different villages or nations to visit their relatives, or in the summer months journey to resource rich camping sites to gather food and materials for the colder winter months. In 1992 the construction and revitalization of the canoe culture came back when they construct an ocean-travel canoe. This canoe is measured at 52 feet and was carved from
2227-457: A single cedar tree. Since that time multiple canoes have been carved, either for single-family use, or community-wide use. The Squamish language , or Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim, is the ancestral language of the Squamish people. It is considered an important part of cultural revitalization. Although nearing language extinction , it is still used in ceremonies, events, and basic conversation among some. As
2358-558: A single entity with a single municipal administration. Each community was represented on the municipal council through a ward electoral system with five wards until 1946 when the ward electoral system was replaced with the at large electoral system that is currently in place. On 3 December 1990, Richmond was designated as a City. The first Town Hall, the Agricultural Hall and the Methodist Church (now Minoru Chapel), were built at
2489-681: A six-floor expansion to its Chinese-oriented shopping centre, Aberdeen Centre . The plan includes an office building and a link to the Canada Line's Aberdeen station . The new complex was completed and opened up to the public in 2014. The River Rock Casino Resort is located near the Canada Line Bridgeport station and has built a 12-story hotel. The casino has added an addition above the newly added six-story car park and SkyTrain Bridgeport Station. TransLink (the Canada Line owner) gave
2620-486: A trendy club for the local elite, hosting an annual Championship which attracted some nationally successful Canadian players. Kitsilano was also the site of the second Sikh temple to be built in Canada, a few years after the first opened Golden in 1905. Opened in 1908, the temple served early South Asian settlers who worked at nearby sawmills along false creek at the time. The area was an inexpensive neighbourhood to live in
2751-458: A typical British Columbia coastal mix of Douglas fir , Western red cedar and Western Hemlock . The largest trees of old growth forest were located around Burrard Inlet , the slopes of Sen̓áḵw and the area presently known as False Creek . This abundance in natural resources fueled the Squamish people's affluent culture. Traditional Squamish territory extends over 673,540 hectares. Squamish settled more permanently into Burrard Inlet to work in
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#17328375668092882-436: A typical longhouse, different branches of an extended family would operate in different parts of the house. A standard house would be 30 feet wide, 40 feet long and from 19–13 feet high, but they could vary in size depending on how big the family was. Within their territory many villages lived near resource or culturally significant places. Kinship ties would connect each of the villages, and neighboring indigenous nations. Salmon
3013-579: A very desirable community to live. One of the main concert venues in the city in the days of the counterculture was the Soft Rock Cafe (not to be confused with the Hard Rock Cafe ), near 4th and Maple, later rebuilt into a modern shopping complex. One remaining artifact of the 1960s is the Naam Cafe at 4th and Macdonald, providing vegetarian , vegan , and natural foods . The area is also known for having
3144-792: A writing system, and forms the basis for most of the Squamish people's history. The passing on of this history is regarded as the "duty of responsible elders". Those who possessed a great deal of knowledge were regarded as aristocrats. Like other Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast , the Squamish have stories of the "Transformer" brothers who went around the world transforming things and people. Other stories transmitted through generations are of ancestral characters doing things or involved in events. Oral tradition and history, including new events, continues to be passed on in this form to this day. Squamish oral history traces back to "founding fathers" of their people. An aged informant of
3275-421: A yearly springtime Thanksgiving Ceremony or First Salmon Ceremony, specially prepared fish was made for community gatherings. After the community feasted, they would follow a time-honored ritual as they returned the bones to the water. A story recounts how the salmon come to the Squamish people; the salmon have their own world, and an island far out in the ocean. They appear every year to sacrifice themselves to feed
3406-815: Is another one of Kitsilano's most popular parks, and is the location of the Museum of Vancouver, the H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, the Vancouver Maritime Museum , as well as the public art installations Gate to the Northwest Passage by artist Alan Chung Hung and "Freezing Water #7" by Jun Ren. Landmark buildings in Kitsilano include the Burrard Bridge , a five-lane, Art Deco style, steel truss bridge constructed in 1930-1932 connecting downtown Vancouver with Kitsilano via connections to Burrard Street on both ends, as well as several historic sites such as
3537-486: Is based on a loose patrilineal structure, with large extended families and communal village life. Numerous villages populated the territory, with each village holding many longhouses. Each longhouse was a community in itself, with a number of related families living in the same home. The number of families varied with the size of the house. During the warmer seasons and around times of gatherings, there would be numerous fires within each house, often one for each family. During
3668-682: Is composed of eight local neighbourhoods: Sea Island, City Centre, Thompson, West Richmond, Steveston, South Arm, East Richmond and Hamilton. As of 2023, the city has an estimated population of 229,781 people. During the 2010 Winter Olympics , the Richmond Olympic Oval was a venue for long track speed skating events. Coast Salish bands had temporary camps on the island, to fish and collect berries, which were scattered and moved from year to year. Certain Coast Salish summer camps were located at Garry Point, and Woodward's Landing, along with
3799-914: Is currently held by David Eby of the BC NDP , Vancouver-Fairview by fellow BC NDP member George Heyman , and Vancouver-False Creek by BC NDP member Brenda Bailey . Ryan Reynolds was born and grew up there. His family still lives there. Kitsilano is the current or former home of a number of notable residents including former Squamish chief August Jack Khatsahlano (whom the city is named after), environmentalist David Suzuki , writers William Gibson and Philip K. Dick , actors Ryan Reynolds , Jason Priestley , and Joshua Jackson , ice hockey players Trevor Linden and Ryan Kesler , and comedian Brent Butt . Other current and former residents of Kitsilano include: Squamish people The Squamish people ( Squamish : Skwxwúʔmesh listen , historically transliterated as Sko-ko-mish ) are an indigenous people of
3930-408: Is currently known as Point Grey is traditionally known as Chitchilayuk. Beaches now known as Spanish Banks is traditionally known as Pookcha, Jericho Beach is traditionally known as Eyalmo and E-Eyalmo, and Kitsilano Beach is traditionally known as Skwa-yoos. The area that is currently Sasamat Street was once known as Kokohpai, while the area of Bayswater Street was called Simsahmuls. Kitsilano
4061-438: Is estimated to take 20 years to build out. Within this development plan, there will be mixed housing, large public spaces with a Civic Plaza slated to be placed in the corner of Lansdowne Road and No 3 Road. The property owner, Vanprop Investment Ltd., has plans for Lansdowne to be a pedestrian-friendly area with shops and services lined within its block. Aspac Developments Ltd purchased 7.5 hectares (19 acres) of land adjacent to
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4192-700: Is in the area now in southwestern British Columbia , Canada , and covers Point Grey as the southern border. From here, it continues northward to Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast , up the Howe Sound . The northern part includes the Squamish , Cheakamus , Elaho and Mamquam rivers. Up the Cheakamus River it includes land past Whistler, British Columbia . The southern and eastern part of their territory includes Indian Arm , along Burrard Inlet , through False Creek then English Bay and Point Grey . Today
4323-644: Is located in the West Side of Vancouver, along the southern shore of English Bay , with Burrard Street as the neighborhood's eastern boundary, Alma Street its western boundary, and 16th Avenue its southern boundary. Adjacent neighbourhoods include the West End northeast across the Burrard Bridge and False Creek , Fairview directly to the east, Shaughnessy to the southeast, Arbutus Ridge directly south, Dunbar-Southlands southwest, and West Point Grey directly west. As of 2016, Kitsilano has 43,045 people. 13.3% of
4454-575: Is made up of most of the islands in the Fraser River delta, the largest and most populated island being Lulu Island . The city of Richmond includes all but a small portion of Lulu Island (the Queensborough neighbourhood at the far eastern tip is part of the city of New Westminster). The next largest island, Sea Island , is home to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). In addition to Lulu and Sea Islands, 15 smaller islands make up
4585-433: Is more similar to that considered under modern intellectual property law. Other property included fishing spots and hunting trap lines, as well as berry patches, canoes, and works of art. Rights to places to hunt, fish, or gather food could be obtained through marriage to people from other villages or nations. Names were a type of property handed down through the generations. Names given to a young person after going through
4716-460: Is not as close to the mountains, it actually receives 30% less rain than neighbouring Vancouver. It rarely snows in winter, and the summer temperatures are mild to warm. Richmond is also very cloudy in the cooler months. In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , Richmond had a population of 209,937 living in 81,080 of its 85,035 total private dwellings, a change of 5.9% from its 2016 population of 198,309. The average age of
4847-405: Is obtained from liver . Vitamin C is primarily found in berries and some other plants. Intestines and stomachs can be eaten to provide vitamin E and the vitamin B complexes. Within the decade following the establishment of Fort Langley in 1827 the Squamish had begun extensive farming of potatoes. As the most important food staple, salmon had esteemed respect within Squamish culture. At
4978-461: Is planning a 16-building development on a seven-hectare (17-acre) property near Capstan Way and No 3 road. The mixed-use development would include over 2,100 residential units, various commercial uses, and a hotel. The Canada Line is considered critical to the project. A fifth Richmond station at Capstan Way (No. 3 Road and Capstan Way) was originally planned, but was cancelled in March 2009. This station
5109-590: Is situated within the Canadian federal electoral districts of Vancouver Quadra and Vancouver Centre , currently held by Joyce Murray and Hedy Fry , respectively. Both are members of the Liberal Party of Canada . Provincially, Kitsilano lies within the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia electoral districts of Vancouver-Point Grey , Vancouver-Fairview , and Vancouver-False Creek . Vancouver-Point Grey
5240-414: Is still intact. Some parts of their culture are nonexistent but historical, some parts have changed because of the modern world, and some parts are cultural occurrences but are not historical in a "pre-contact" sense. Squamish daily life is revolved around the village community. Before contact, a village would consist of multiple dwellings called Longhouses , which would hold a large extended family. Within
5371-552: Is unclear whether the connection with the salmon was merely a coincidence, or if perhaps the illness described was not in fact smallpox. Regardless, Hill-Tout wrote: “[A] dreadful misfortune befell them. … One salmon season the fish were found to be covered with running sores and blotches, which rendered them unfit for food. As the people depended very largely upon these salmon for their winter’s food supply, they were obliged to catch and cure them as best they could, and store them away for food. They put off eating them till no other food
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5502-550: The Bard on the Beach outdoor Shakespeare festival, and the Celebration of Light fireworks competition. Indigenous murals can be seen as the connection between the City of Reconciliation and the Musqueam , Squamish , and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. The goal is to expose the public to the culturally contemporary Indigenous artists that are present in today's society. Kitsilano is home to
5633-682: The Canadian Coast Guard . The property is bounded by Westminster Highway, Garden City Road, Alderbridge Way and No. 4 Road and has been within the Provincial Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) since 1973. In 2005, the Federal Government of Canada deemed the land as "surplus" to its needs and sold the site to the Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation. The City of Richmond, Canada Lands Company , and
5764-625: The Cheakamus , Elaho and Mamquam Rivers . Up the Cheakamus River Squamish territory included land past Whistler, British Columbia . Squamish territory also overlapped with the territories of neighboring indigenous peoples. The territory is shared between the territories of the Musqueam , Tsleil-Waututh to the south, and the Lil'wat to the north. These neighbouring peoples also have Squamish language names. The Tsleil-Waututh are Sel̓íl̓witulh ,
5895-520: The Indian Act by the federal government to legalize the unsettling of reserves stated that "an Indian reserve which adjoins or is situated wholly or partly within an incorporated town or city having a population of [more] than eight thousand", could at the recommendation of the Superintendent General be removed without their consent if it was "having regard to the interest of the public" without
6026-581: The Museum of Vancouver and H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, St. Roch National Historic Site of Canada , Kitsilano Secondary School , General Gordon Elementary School and the Bessborough Armoury . Busy Macdonald Street and some quiet, leafy adjoining streets still have some 1910s–1920s craftsman houses that cannot be found anywhere else in Vancouver. According to Exploring Vancouver , an architectural guide to
6157-448: The Musqueam , Squamish , and Tsleil-Waututh Nations to rename those areas after their original Indigenous names. However, the Indigenous community replied by saying the original areas were not named previously, because they were only forests before colonization. As of today no beaches or parks, including Kitsilano Beach have been renamed in the hən'q'əmin'əm' (Musqueam Halkomelem ) or Skwxwú7mesh Snichim (Squamish language). Vanier Park
6288-463: The Netherlands or the levees of New Orleans , serve to protect the city from anticipated sources of flooding. There is a possibility that, during an earthquake , the dykes could rupture, and the alluvial soil may liquefy , causing extensive damage. Richmond is also at risk of a major flood if the Fraser River has an unusually high spring freshet . Recreational trails run along the tops of many of
6419-792: The Shishalh are the Shishá7lh , the Musqueam are Xwmétskwiyam , and the Lil'wat are Lúx̱wels . Roberts Creek is considered the border between the Squamish territory and Shishalh 's. The Squamish are culturally and historically similar, but are politically different from their kin, the Tsleil-Waututh. Through family inter-marriage and the land rights that often came with it, many places for resource gathering were also shared. Vancouver and adjacent municipalities are located within traditional Squamish territory, making
6550-550: The Thunderbird helped him and gave him food. He continued down the river, with his food gathered by the Thunderbird, when the Thunderbird told him where to stay, and that he would give him a wife. That is where the people of Chʼiyáḵmesh came from. In another story of the first ancestors, two men first appeared at and Sch’enḵ and Chekw’élhp , located at what is now known as Gibsons, British Columbia . The first man to appear here
6681-512: The fur trade boom, gold rush , along with the subsequent colonization policies by the Canadian government, ushered in a new way of life for the Squamish. In a few years, they had quickly fallen to a small minority, due to more disease, displacement from their land, and the rising European and Asian populations. In the early 19th century, Fort Langley was the Hudson's Bay Company 's first major trading post. During this time, trade went on between
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#17328375668096812-487: The "sale". The families who lived in the village were placed on a barge and sent out to sea, with the intent for them to move up to the Squamish River area. It was not until 1923 that the reserve chiefs amalgamated into becoming the singular Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw to manage all their reserves. In 1906, a delegation of chiefs from British Columbia traveled to London to seek an audience with King Edward VII regarding
6943-625: The 1770s was the first and the most devastating, with more to follow. During the next few decades, other damaging outbreaks would attack this area: a smallpox epidemic in 1800–01, influenza in 1836–37, measles in 1847–48, and smallpox again in the 1862 Pacific Northwest smallpox epidemic . In 1792, the Squamish people had their first recorded contact with Europeans when British Captain George Vancouver and Spanish Captain Jose Maria Narvaez sailed into Burrard Inlet. European expansion during
7074-462: The 1960s and attracted many from the counterculture from across Canada and the United States and was known as one of the two hotbeds of the hippie culture in the city, the other being Gastown . However, the area became gentrified by ' yuppies ' in subsequent decades. Close proximity to downtown Vancouver, walking distance to parks, beaches and popular Granville Island has made the neighbourhood
7205-565: The Burrard Bridge, Kitsilano Beach, and the Museum of Vancouver / H. R. MacMillan Space Centre . The Museum of Vancouver has gained several pieces of Northwest Coast from Indigenous artists. Much of the work is displayed in a wide variety of mediums to showcase the Indigenous culture that surrounds this city. The neighborhood has played host to a number of annual events such as the Vancouver International Children's Festival,
7336-507: The European legal tradition. Locations typically did not have clearly drawn boundary lines, although sometimes certain landmarks served as boundary markers. The value and ownership of places usually correlated to a valuable resource in the location, as opposed to overt physical characteristics. Usually the resources in question were food sources, such as salmon streams, herring spawning grounds, berry patches, and fishing holes. The Squamish kinship
7467-609: The False Creek Indian Reserve No. 6. The False Creek Indian Reserve No. 6, also known as the Kitsilano Indian Reserve, is an Indian Reserve developed by the colonial government in 1869. The reserve is located on the former site of a Squamish village, known as "sən’a?qw" in hən’q’emin’əm’, the language of the Musqueam people, and as "Sen’ákw" in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim, the language of the Squamish people. Inside
7598-465: The Fraser River and the finished $ 178 million Richmond Olympic Oval . The $ 1 billion plan includes 16 high-density towers, up to 14 stories in height. The towers will be stepped toward the waterfront and will include trees and green space. Aspac's plans are for "probably the highest-end development Richmond has seen to date" said Mayor Brodie. A $ 2.3 million hard-surfaced path will be constructed along
7729-558: The Great Canadian Casino Corporation land worth $ 9.5 million, and $ 4.5 million in cash in return for building the park-and-ride facility. Transit users are charged $ 3.00 per day to use the facility (up from an initial $ 2.00 charge). The 55.2-hectare (136-acre) parcel known as the Garden City Lands was leased by the federal government for decades and was formerly used as a transmitter site for program requirements of
7860-663: The Musqueam Indian Band entered a 2005 agreement with the federal government that included the intent to remove the land from the ALR for the purposes of high-density development. In April 2008, an application to exclude the land from the Agricultural Land Reserve was made to the Agricultural Land Commission. The application was rejected on 10 February 2009. On 8 March 2010, Richmond City Council announced
7991-553: The Pacific Northwest Coast . Archaeological evidence shows they have lived in the area for more than a thousand years. In 2012, there was population of 3,893 band members registered with the Squamish Nation . Their language is the Squamish language or Sḵwx̱wúʔmesh snichim , considered a part of the Coast Salish languages , and is categorized as nearly extinct with just 10 fluent speakers as of 2010. The traditional territory
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#17328375668098122-540: The South Terminal of Vancouver International Airport . Air Canada Jazz operates a regional office in Richmond. Before its dissolution, Canadian Airlines operated an office in Richmond. Before it merged into Air Canada Jazz, regional airline Air BC was headquartered in Richmond. Prior to its dissolution, Harmony Airways , Pacific Western Airlines and Canadian Pacific Air Lines were all headquartered in Richmond. The first McDonald's restaurant outside of
8253-600: The Squamish and Fort Langley. In 1858–59 the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush brought in more foreign settlers to the territory, but major settlement did not begin until after the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed, bringing more foreigners from eastern Canada. During construction of the railway, the treaty process by the Canadian government attempted to settle land issues across the Prairies. The Squamish were
8384-501: The Squamish language, and sənaʔqʷ in the Musqueam people's hən'q'əmin'əm' language, where August Jack Khatsahlano lived. The forced relocation of the Musqueam Nation by the Canadian government resulted in a Musqueam Reserve created on the north arm of the Fraser River . The Squamish Nation was forcibly relocated to reserves on the north shore of Burrard Inlet , currently the cities North Vancouver and West Vancouver , as well as
8515-410: The Squamish one of the few indigenous peoples in Canada to have communities in or near metropolitan areas. Of the 673,540 hectares their traditional territory encompasses, currently less than 0.5% is reserve land allotted to the Squamish Nation . It is on these reserves that most of the current Squamish communities exist. The Squamish people live throughout and outside of their territory. A majority of
8646-616: The Squamish people live mostly in seven communities, located in West Vancouver , North Vancouver , and within and nearby to the District of Squamish . The Squamish people’s history, culture, societal customs, and other knowledge was transmitted by oral tradition from generation to generation without a writing system. Today oral tradition continues to be a fundamental aspect of their traditional culture. This continued until European contact and diseases in 1791, which caused drastic changes to
8777-416: The Squamish people named Mel̓ḵw’s, said to be over 100 years old, was interviewed by Charles Hill-Tout in 1886. He recited oral history on the origins of the world, and talked about how "water was everywhere". But the tops of the mountains came out of the sea and land was formed. The first man to appear was named "X̱i7lánexw". He was given a wife, an adze, and a salmon trap. X̱i7lánexw and his wife populated
8908-569: The Squamish was a custom called flat-foreheading . An infant's head would be placed in a wooden bust model of the head and shoulders to gradually alter the shape of the head into something more flattened in the forehead area. This shape was considered attractive and regarded as a sign of nobility. The last Squamish known to perform this practice was Tim Moody. In Squamish society, many things were considered property which were not always referred to as such in European societies. This included names, stories, ceremonies, and songs. This notion of property
9039-657: The United States was opened in Richmond in June 1967. The Agricultural Land Reserve preserves 4,916 hectares within the city as farmland, an area that makes up most of east Richmond. Of this area, 3,012 hectares are farmed by 247 farms; the rest is either vacant or occupied by non-farm uses. Cranberries and blueberries are the dominant crops grown. Other crops grown include strawberries , corn , and potatoes . In 2001, Richmond had approximately 47% of BC's cranberry acreage. Richmond Centre , Lansdowne Centre , McArthurGlen Vancouver , Parker Place and Aberdeen Centre are some of
9170-416: The adjacent Sea Island (where the Vancouver International Airport is located) and several other smaller islands and uninhabited islets to its north and south, the suburb neighbours Vancouver and Burnaby on the Burrard Peninsula to the north, New Westminster and Annacis Island to the east, Delta to the south, and the Strait of Georgia to the west. The indigenous Coast Salish peoples were
9301-406: The area is more commonly known as "food street". Richmond city planners are one year into their update of its official plan, passed in fall 2019, for the city centre. The plan is anchored by the Canada Line and includes the development of nine transit-oriented village centres. The population of the area is expected to grow from about 40,000 to 120,000 residents. According to a senior planner for
9432-483: The children were forbidden to speak their Squamish language. This caused a deep resentment about speaking the language, and so the next generation grew up without any knowledge of their native-tongue. Over the years, English became the prominent language. Then during the 1960s, a great deal of documentation and work took place to help in the revitalization of the Squamish language. The BC Language Project of Randy Bouchard and Dorthy Kennedy undertook more documentation under
9563-516: The city has plenty of rich, alluvial soil for agriculture, and was one of the first areas in British Columbia to be farmed by Europeans in the 19th century. The drawback of Richmond's geographical location was that since all the land averages just one metre above sea level , it was prone to flooding, especially during high tide . As a result, all the major islands are now surrounded by a system of dykes , which, although not as massive as those in
9694-403: The city's 128.87 square kilometres (49.76 sq mi) land area, including: The city also includes the fishing village of Steveston, located in the far southwest corner of the city, and Burkeville , which shares Sea Island with the airport. Both Steveston and Burkeville were independent villages until they were annexed by Richmond. Since all of Richmond occupies islands in a river delta ,
9825-438: The city, the goal of the plan is to "turn the middle arm of the Fraser River into a focus instead of an edge." A Richmond parks manager said that for "too long residents have felt contained by the river, seen it as being to their backs. Now, they want people to face the river and embrace the waterfront." Lansdowne Centre will be undergoing redevelopment in 2025 to make way for a 50-acre master planned mixed-use community, which
9956-451: The city: Kitsilano developed as a less expensive suburban alternative to the West End. Endless rows of developer-built houses lined the grid of streets, their gabled roofs picturesque and not boring. Many (...) resemble West End houses of preceding years, but have the wider proportions, broad verandahs , and wood brackets popularized by the newer and trendier California bungalow . Kitsilano
10087-442: The community, the village and other indigenous nations, and how much he exemplified the characteristics of a noble person, such as humility, respect, generosity, and wisdom. The Squamish class structure is similar to that of other Coast Salish peoples. Unlike the European class structure, characterized as a pyramid, Squamish classes were historically structured in a manner more comparable to an inverted pear. Nobility, aristocrats, and
10218-464: The community. All the foods eaten by their ancestors are considered "traditional foods", and are usually accompanied in the feast celebrating their indigenous culture. It was this event that was banned and made illegal by the Canadian government from 1884 to 1951. During that time, their ceremonies and events went underground, only to be revived years later. Prior to contact, travel was primarily done by canoe. Large cedar trees are cut down and carved into
10349-685: The corner of No. 17 (River) Rd and No. 20 (Cambie) Rd near the main settlement on the northwestern tip of Lulu Island at North Arm. The old fishing village of Steveston on the southwestern tip of Lulu Island is now home to several museums and heritage sites, as well as a working harbour for fishing boats. Currently, London Heritage Farm, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and the Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site in Steveston highlight these parts of Richmond's diverse history. Richmond
10480-412: The culture such as generosity, humility and respect. Some families were considered nobility because of their connection to spiritual powers or ceremonialism. Shamans , prophets and medicine doctors were considered nobility because of the training and expertise they possessed. Some jobs or positions held by members of the community also signified members of this class. These positions were often related to
10611-565: The development are also slated for redevelopment. The University of British Columbia constructed the John M.S. Lecky boathouse along River Road. It draws crowds from rowing regattas and dragon boat races. A possible pedestrian bridge where Cambie Road reaches the river is also being included in a future vision of the area. It would link nature trails on the north and south banks, and make Aberdeen Centre within walking distance for BCIT's aerospace campus students. Developer Pinnacle International
10742-522: The development of railway lines drew attention to the reserve, the Burrard Street Bridge and various leases began to occupy the reserve land. The land set aside for the Squamish people was continually appropriated until it was completely sold off. After decades of legal proceedings, the Squamish Nation reclaimed a small amount of the reserve land in 2002. The city's streetcar lines used to have
10873-413: The direction of these two main collaborators of this project. They devised the present writing system that is used for the language. Eventually a local elementary as well as a high school came to include Squamish language classes in place of the usual French language option. A children's school called Xwemelch'stn Estimxwataxw School, meaning Xwmelch'stn Littleones School , with grades kindergarten to 3,
11004-423: The dykes, and Richmond also supports about 1,400 acres (5.7 km ) of parkland. Because of the high groundwater table, very few houses in Richmond have basements and until the late 1980s, very few buildings were above 3 storeys high. Also, because of proximity to the airport, current building codes limit the height of buildings to 150 feet (46 m). Richmond has an oceanic climate ( Cfb ). Because it
11135-548: The first of certain kinds of restaurants, such as the California-style Topanga Cafe. Three of the first neighbourhood pub licenses in Vancouver are still located on 4th Avenue - Bimini's at Maple (reopened after a fire in 2007), Darby D. Dawes at Macdonald, and Jerry's Cove—the original name of Jericho—near Alma. Greenpeace - founded in the home of Dorothy Stowe at 2775 Courtney Ave. in upper Point Grey near Pacific Spirit Regional Park and UBC - originally found
11266-523: The first people to inhabit the area of modern-day Richmond, with the Musqueam Band naming the site near Terra Nova " spələkʷəqs " or "boiling point". Today, East Asian Canadians make up a majority of Richmond's population, along with the Continental Asian Canadian population numbering almost three-fourths of the city's population. As a member municipality of Metro Vancouver , Richmond
11397-612: The highest in Canada. Richmond is also home to two of the largest Buddhist temples in North America, the International Buddhist Temple and the Ling Yen Mountain Temple . Approximately half of Richmond residents identify as having Chinese ancestry with BBC calling it "North America's most Asian city" in 2012. East Asian Canadians make up a majority of Richmond's population, many of whom immigrated in
11528-511: The land and the Squamish descend from these ancestors. Dominic Charlie told a similar story in 1965 about the origins of his people. Their oral history talks about the Great Flood also. In a story said to happen at Chʼiyáḵmesh ( Cheakamus ), in the Squamish Valley , a man who survived the flood was walking down the river, feeling depressed about the loss of his people from the flood. Then
11659-493: The land confiscated by the government of Canada under the reserve system. Joe Capilano traveled along with Cowichan Chief Charley Isipaymilt and Shuswap Chief Basil David, but their requests to see the King were denied. The vegetation of the Squamish people's homeland is a dense temperate rainforest , formed mainly of conifers with a spread of maple and alder , as well as large areas of swampland . The evergreen trees are
11790-623: The lands into anything that is not related to ALR use. On Canada Day , Richmond has an annual festival in Steveston called the Steveston Salmon Festival. This event includes a parade, and a huge barbecued salmon sale in front of the Steveston Community Centre. Locally based municipal, provincial and federal politicians frequently show up at this event, usually as part of the parade and/or to hand out Canadian flags . An annual Richmond Maritime Festival has been held at
11921-514: The language is moribund, with no children learning it as a first language and all language speakers over the age of 65, much work is being done to preserve and revitalize it. The language is part the Coast Salish linguistic group , and most closely related to Sháshíshálh (Sechelt), and ( Halkomelem ) and Xwsa7km ( Lhéchalosem ). Many anthropologists and linguists have worked with Squamish people and their language including Franz Boas , Charles Hill-Tout , Homer Barnett , and Aert H. Kuipers . Since
12052-465: The late 1980s, mostly from Hong Kong , Taiwan , and Mainland China on top of the Japanese Canadian community who immigrated to Canada nearly a century earlier. Almost three quarters of city's population is of Continental Asian descent, where other Continental Asian Canadians communities residing in Richmond include Indo-Canadians and Filipino Canadians . Richmond's Japanese community has
12183-406: The late 19th century the language has had a history. Before contact, it was the prominent language of all the villages, along with the Chinook Jargon . Most children would learn Chinook as a first language because it was so basic, then Squamish language as they become older. After the spread of diseases which caused massive population drops and after colonizations of the territory, the language became
12314-420: The like were the most populous, with commoners making a sizable but smaller portion of society compared to nobility. The smallest group were slaves , held only by high-ranking nobles. The nobility was recognized by three key factors: wealth, especially the amount of wealth they distributed amongst the people; values, particularly the degree to which the values practiced by the person and their family exemplified
12445-582: The mall. While McArthurGlen Vancouver has been given the Best Outlet Centre 2015 award at MAPIC. Richmond is also home to many Chinese-oriented shopping malls, most of them along No. 3 Road from Alderbridge Way to Capstan Way. This area is officially termed as the " Golden Village " by Tourism Richmond and includes malls such as Aberdeen Centre , Continental Centre, Union Square, President Plaza, Parker Place , and Yaohan Centre. The strip malls located on Alexandra Road are famous for their restaurants, and
12576-517: The mills and trade with settlers during the mid-1800s. This southern areas of the Indian Arm , along Burrard Inlet, through False Creek then English Bay and Point Grey now serve as the contested southern boundary. Traditionally Squamish would have passed Point Atkinson and Howe Sound as far as Point Grey. From here, it moved northward to Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast and up Howe Sound. The northern part included Squamish , Bowen Island , and
12707-458: The most prominent malls in Richmond. There is also Steveston Village. The Seafair Plaza commercial center is near Steveston, in Seafair, a different neighbourhood and planning area. The success of these malls has created significant economic growth in Richmond. Richmond Centre has become Canada's 12th most profitable mall. Offices, apartment buildings, and transportation hubs have sprung up around
12838-428: The mountain goat, like hunting or the weaving of mountain goat wool blankets. One's class was not always predetermined and set for life under this system, and before European contact commoners or slaves had the ability to sometimes rise through the ranks to one day reach a higher class designation. In the values of the Squamish culture, respect for each other and generosity of both the wealth of wisdom and material wealth
12969-402: The need for consent from the reserve's residents. Subsequently, both provincial and federal governments began the "unsettling of reserves" process, which was the "emptying" of the reserves that "be[came] a source of nuisance and an impediment to progress", or, in other words, the government unsettled reserves for growing cities and potential business ventures; and by the end of 1911 the reserve
13100-423: The next 80 to 100 years. During the 80-year period from the 1770 to 1850, smallpox , measles , influenza , and other diseases killed many villages and communities. Surviving oral histories describe the 1770s epidemic. An "aged informant" of the Squamish, in the 1890s, related the history of a catastrophic illness to ethnographer Charles Hill-Tout . Since it is now known that smallpox is only carried by humans it
13231-555: The ocean and mountains as a backdrop. All summer long, the showboat hosts free performances from local bands, dance groups, and other performers. Its main goal is to entertain residents and tourists, showcasing amateur talent. It is located on the south side of the Kitsilano Pool along Cornwall Avenue. Weather permitting, shows typically start at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. Beatrice Leinbach, or Captain Bea, has been playing
13362-414: The people and culture. Charles Hill-Tout became the first European to document Squamish oral history in the early 1900s. Later, many anthropologists and linguists came to work with Squamish informants and elders to document Squamish culture and history. Although first recorded contact with Europeans happened with George Vancouver and José María Narváez in 1791–1792, disease had devastated much of
13493-484: The people live on Indian reserves (est. 2252 living on reserve) in the Squamish territory. There are communities on 9 of the 26 Squamish reserves. These communities are in North Vancouver , West Vancouver , and along the Squamish River . The reserves are located on long occupied village sites, camp sites, and historical sites. In the old villages large extended families would inhabit a large longhouse. One such house
13624-411: The people, but the people asked that after the people are done with them, they return the salmon bones back to the ocean so they can come back. Salmon was caught using a variety of methods, the most common being the fishing weir . These traps allowed skilled hunters to easily spear a good amount of fish with little effort. Fish weirs were regularly used on the Cheakamus River , which takes its name from
13755-463: The population before in the 1770s. For decades following, more diseases, including influenza , reduced the population significantly. Along with the influx of new foreigners, usurpation of their ancestral lands, and later policies of assimilation by the Canadian government , caused a significant shift in their culture, way of life, and society. Oral tradition transmits history, literature , law and other knowledges verbally across generations, without
13886-443: The population is under the age of 20; 40.1% is between 20 and 39; 32.8% is between 40 and 64; and 13.8% is 65 or older. 74.2% of Kitsilano residents speak English as a first language, 5.6% speak a Chinese language , 2.6% speak French and 0.2% speaking hən'q'əmin'əm . The median household income is $ 72,839 and 14.7% of its population lives in low-income households. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. Notable landmarks in Kitsilano include
14017-502: The population was 43.3 years old, and the median age of the population was 43.6. Of the population, 13.3 percent was 0 to 14 years of age, 20 percent was 65 years and over, 2.4 percent was 85 years and over, and 66.7 percent was the age 15 to 64 years old. Richmond's 2021 population of 209,937 makes it the fourth-largest city in British Columbia , after Vancouver (662,248), Surrey (568,322) and Burnaby (249,125). Richmond has
14148-490: The reserve there was a large longhouse that housed families, held potlach ceremonies, and became a central point of trade. The land appealed to its residents and attracted settlers by providing access to natural resources. It served as an important fishing area where inhabitants could set up tidal weirs of vine maple fencing and nettle fibre nets to catch fish. Additionally, the Squamish people cultivated an orchard as well as cherry trees on this land. Between 1869 and 1965, as
14279-452: The river to link the project to Aberdeen Centre. Aspac's initial plan includes constructing the development in four phases, with the first phase consisting of 65,000 square metres (700,000 sq ft) of residential development, and 2,300 square metres (25,000 sq ft) of ground-level commercial space. Some construction will not begin until after 2010, and will take up to 12 years to complete. The warehouses and commercial parks near
14410-511: The site of the Terra Nova cannery, which had at one time been a Musqueam village. There is no definitive historical account as to how Richmond was named. There are several possibilities that have been proposed, including: The Township of Richmond, British Columbia was incorporated on 10 November 1879. The Township of Richmond was modeled after Ontario's political townships – an incorporated municipality, consisting of communities that are united as
14541-559: The subject of intensive missionary efforts and the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia described the Squamish as "almost entirely Catholic". In 1876 the Indian Act was passed and the Joint Indian Reserve Commission, cordoned off plots of land or Indian reserves , designating the native population to specific areas. These reserves were managed and controlled by Indian agents from the Department of Northern and Indian Affairs . At
14672-454: The summer of that year to offices near Broadway and Cypress, which also became the first offices of the Green Party of Canada . Like all of Vancouver, Kitsilano is located in traditional Coast Salish territory. The land that is currently known as Kitsilano has been shared by the Musqueam , Squamish , and Tsleil-Watuth peoples since time immemorial. Thus, their traditional place names are valuable descriptors of this landscape. The area that
14803-498: The time, numerous reserves were plotted out from already-existing village sites, and then chiefs were assigned to preside over each reserve. Around the same time, some reserve lands were sold away from their respective families and chiefs, both illegally and legally. One instance of this was the case of Kitsilano Indian Reserve, the location of which was Sen̓áḵw . Portions of this reserve were expropriated, both in 1886 and 1902. Families were forced into leaving, and promised payment for
14934-424: The values of the people; and knowledge, including both possessing and sharing knowledge of history, traditions and culture and knowledge of skills, whether practical or spiritual. Sharing wealth was highly regarded and practiced by most high-ranking and wealthy families. This distribution of wealth is a key component of the potlatch gift-giving festival, and was encouraged through the display of values celebrated in
15065-567: The village of Chiyakmesh . This translates into People of the Fish Weir , denoting the weir utilized in this area. This method of fishing required extensive cooperation between the men fishing and the women on the shore doing the cleaning. In the past, salmon would be roasted over fires and eaten fresh, or dried for preservation. Using smoke over alder or hemlock fires preserved salmon so it could be stored for up two years. It could be soaked in water and prepared for eating. Over time, this evolved into
15196-495: The winter season, one fire was used for ceremonies and spiritual work taking place in the house. Historically, marriage would occur through either arranged marriage, or the groom proposing the potential marriage to the father of his prospective wife. If the father endorsed the marriage, he would invite the groom into his house after conducting a test or trial on the young man. Only the wealthiest individuals also practiced polygamy. Through their history, their culture has gone through
15327-524: Was Cantonese , spoken by 21.52% of the population, followed by Mandarin at 21.08%. According to the 2021 census , religious groups in Richmond included: Richmond supports about 100,000 jobs in various areas, including services, retailing, tourism, light manufacturing, airport services and aviation, agriculture, fishing, and government. Richmond also is a leading centre in the region for high-technology companies, including Norsat and Sierra Wireless . Pacific Coastal Airlines has its headquarters in
15458-434: Was mussels , sea eggs, cockles , clams , seaweed, herring , trout , crab , urchin , sea lion , seal , and all kinds of salmon . For berries and plants, it was different kinds of wild blueberry , blackberry , salmon berry , salal berry , five different kinds of grass and the roots of different plants. Ooligans were once in their river system and Ooligan grease was once made from it. Sea food, particularly salmon
15589-464: Was Tseḵanchtn, then the second man appeared named Sx̱eláltn. The people repopulated the land with large families and many Squamish people claim descent from these ancestors. During the 1770s, smallpox (variola major) eradicated at least 30 percent of the indigenous population on the Northwest coast of North America, including many Squamish. This disease was one of the most deadly to hit the region over
15720-415: Was available, and then began a terrible time of sickness and distress. A dreadful skin disease, loathsome to look upon, broke out upon all alike. None were spared. Men, women, and children sickened, took the disease and died in agony by hundreds, so that when the spring arrived and fresh food was procurable, there was scarcely a person left of all their numbers to get it. Camp after camp, village after village,
15851-547: Was built to assist in language immersion , with plans to expand it into a full immersion programmed school. Coast Salish peoples' had complex land management practices linked to ecosystem health and resilience. Forest gardens on Canada's northwest coast included crabapple, hazelnut, cranberry, wild plum, and wild cherry species. Squamish territory was abundant in rich food sources from land animals to sea life and plants and animals. For meat, deer , bear , elk , duck , swan , and small rodents such as squirrel. With ocean food it
15982-612: Was considered so critical to the development that the City of Richmond has received $ 19 million from developers for the station to be built. TransLink , the Canada Line operator, has started designing this station in November 2017. On 2 September 2021, construction started on Capstan station . Also included will be 100 affordable housing units, a 25-space daycare, and a 0.6-hectare (1.5-acre) park. The developers are also proposing live-work dwellings, where shop owners would live above their ground-level operations. Fairchild Developments built
16113-445: Was key. Wisdom or knowledge was passed on through oral and visual 'teachings'. In many Western concepts of wealth, the poor and those having little formal education may be regarded as having little to offer. This was not so with the Squamish. As Andy Paull noted, "It was the duty of the more responsible Indians to see that the history and traditions of our race were properly handed down to posterity. A knowledge of our history and legends
16244-417: Was left desolate. The remains of which, said the old man, in answer by my queries on this, are found today in the old camp sites or midden-heaps over which the forest has been growing for so many generations. Little by little the remnant left by the disease grew into a nation again, and when the first white men sailed up the Squamish in their big boats, the tribe was strong and numerous again” The epidemic of
16375-527: Was put within easy range of downtown and housing and commercial areas carved out of the forests and swamp. The lowland area beyond Macdonald, from 4th Avenue to King Edward, was known as Malaria Flats because of its swampy air. Like most of Vancouver, it had only a few decades before been covered in dense West Coast forest. From the 1890s, the Vancouver Lawn Tennis Club in Granville Park became
16506-399: Was recorded in present-day Stanley Park at the old village of X̱wáy̓x̱way in the late 1880s. It was recorded as being 60 meters long and near 20 meters wide, and 11 families were said to live in the house. Below is a chart of Squamish villages, both past and present, with their reserve designation, and other information. Traditionally, the leadership was grouped with each family having
16637-402: Was similar as an education is regarded among whitemen. Those who possessed it were regarded as aristocrats. Those who were indifferent, whether adults or children, were rascals. Being without means of transmitting it into writing, much time was spent by the aristocrats in importing this knowledge to the youth. It was the responsible duty of responsible elders." One practice historically done by
16768-472: Was sold to the Government of British Columbia. At this time in Canadian history, the federal government had already isolated the Indigenous population on to morsels of reserve lands, only to further deprive Indigenous peoples of what the government first thought was negligible land. The Squamish Nation formally surrendered the majority of reserve to the federal government in 1946. Part of the expropriated land
16899-433: Was the main staple of food, found at one time to be in abundance in the area. Other seafood such as herring, shell-fish, and seal. Berries and plant roots also filled the diet. This made up the basis of daily life. In large longhouses festivities and ceremonies take place. Things such as naming ceremonies, funerals, memorials for the deceased, weddings, and spiritual events, happen in their longhouses. Elaborate events called
17030-409: Was their main staple . It was this abundance of sea food and salmon that their diet was considerably heavy on natural fats and oils. This left relatively small amounts of carbohydrates in the diet. To ensure that essentials vitamins are acquired, they eat almost all parts of animals which they harvest. Ground calcined shells, algae and seaweeds were sources of calcium for Indigenous peoples. Vitamin A
17161-614: Was used by the Canadian Pacific Railway who pursued selling the land they had deed to in the 1980s despite the original agreement with the Squamish Nation that they should regain control of the land. This went to court, and in August 2002 the BC Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's ruling in favour of the Squamish. This Indian reserve land is at the foot of the Burrard Street Bridge , called Senakw (commonly spelled Snauq historically) in
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