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Joint Indigenous and Local Government Initiatives and Relations
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First city park gifted name in both local languages: sθәqәlxenәm ts'exwts'áxwi7
Today the new park at Smithe and Richards, on the unceded territories of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, has become the first Vancouver park to be gifted a name in both the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh languages.
sθәqәlxenәm ts'exwts'áxwi7, meaning ‘rainbow’, was chosen by the Nations because the land where the park now sits was once forested with large trees and had many sources of water, including a marsh where the sun and mist would form rainbows. The name also reflects the bridging of the diverse people and communities the park brings together, and is a nod to the vibrant LGBTQIA2S+ history of the area.
This is a significant moment for Vancouver. In returning the language to the land in such a prominent public space, residents and visitors will be reminded of the depths of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh’s cultural continuity and connection to the land.
Formally gifted through a cultural naming ceremony, the name builds upon a history of Park Board work to see reconciliation realized across the city. Since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report was published in 2015, the
The Park Board has actively worked to address some of the impacts of colonization that it has jurisdiction over. Supporting hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh to once again be heard and seen throughout these lands and waters is a powerful tool for reconciliation and affirming the rights of the host Nations while advancing the Park Board’s commitment to decolonization.