source: Turtle Island News |
Source: The Bill Reid Centre |
May 10, 2012
Threatened Ancestors at c̓əsnaʔəm (Marpole Midden)
To those concerned about appropriate archaeological practice,
respectful collaboration with First Nations, and the ethical
conservation of local heritage and history, there is a request for your
support tomorrow morning at c̓əsnaʔəm (the Marpole Midden), SW Marine
Drive at Hudson St.), or tomorrow afternoon (12:30 PM) on the
Legislature grounds in Victoria.
c̓əsnaʔəmis an ancient Musqueam village and burial site and Canadian Heritage Site (since 1933) threatened by residential condominium development. Many Musqueam will be attending the peaceful demonstration at the Legislature in Victoria tomorrow, so the number of people available to protect the site at c̓əsnaʔəm will be significantly lowered. Unfortunately, the developer has warned that if a resolution had not been reached by the end of Wednesday, he will begin work again on Thursday morning, including the possible removal of partial intact burials of Musqueam ancestors.
We would be honoured if you are able to join us to help protect our ancestors, and this irreplaceable part of Musqueam, BC, and Canadian heritage. However, if you are unable to attend the demonstration in Victoria or visit the site itself, you can still help out in these ways:
c̓əsnaʔəmis an ancient Musqueam village and burial site and Canadian Heritage Site (since 1933) threatened by residential condominium development. Many Musqueam will be attending the peaceful demonstration at the Legislature in Victoria tomorrow, so the number of people available to protect the site at c̓əsnaʔəm will be significantly lowered. Unfortunately, the developer has warned that if a resolution had not been reached by the end of Wednesday, he will begin work again on Thursday morning, including the possible removal of partial intact burials of Musqueam ancestors.
We would be honoured if you are able to join us to help protect our ancestors, and this irreplaceable part of Musqueam, BC, and Canadian heritage. However, if you are unable to attend the demonstration in Victoria or visit the site itself, you can still help out in these ways:
- Share this story with your networks;
- Write letters of support or protest (see the attached letter - dated Friday, but mostly up-to-date - for suggested recipients);
- Donate food or funds for food at the site (contact Dawn Sparrow [see source for contact info]); and
- Sign the online petition here: http://www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/stop-the-immediate-destruction-of-indigenous-burial-sites/943.
source: The Bill Reid Centre for Northwest Coast Arts
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Some historical context from the Musqueam First Nation website:Musqueam First Nation |
c̓əsnaʔəm
c̓əsnaʔəm (commonly known as the Eburne Site, Marpole Midden or Great Fraser Midden), located in the heart of Musqueam’s Traditional and unceded Territory, is an ancient village and burial site of the Musqueam people, dating back at least 4,000 years.In the late 1700s and 1800s, small pox and other diseases arrived on the Northwest Coast and affected our people at c̓əsnaʔəm. Musqeam Elder James Point recalled seeing remains of house posts and “lots of bones” as a boy in the 1880s. He also recounted how the people of c̓əsnaʔəm (and other Musqueam villages) were called by q̓iyəplenəxʷ, a highly respected and renowned warrior and leader, to defend against northern invaders.
In 1884, during the “Garypie Farm Road” upgrading, an extensive shell midden containing ancestral remains and cultural objects was uncovered. H.H Gowan and James Johnson removed ancestral remains and gave them to the Natural History Museum of New Westminster. They were later destroyed in the fire of 1898.
In the 1890s, Harlan I. Smith of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City mined the site for human skeletal remains and cultural objects for the museum’s collections. He noted that “seventy-five [human] skeletons were found in the shell heaps at [Marpole] during about a month’s work.”
In the 1920/30s, local ethnographer Charles Hill-Tout and the local history association (forerunner of the Museum of Vancouver) undertook extensive excavations and was amazed at the antiquity and extent of the site. They retained self-taught “archaeologist” Herman Leisk to remove cultural deposits including human skeletal remains for the museum’s collections. According to his own report, he encountered over 700 human burials. Some were discarded in the trash because of lack of space at the museum. Skeletal remains were also sent to the Royal College of Surgeons in London England (where they were later destroyed in the Blitz) and to other museums in North America. In 1933 the Historical Sites and Monuments Board of Canada declared the site as a Canadian National Historic Site. A cairn was placed in a nearby park, marking “the site of one of the largest prehistoric middens on the Pacific Coast of Canada. It originally covered an area of about 4½ acres, with an average depth of 5 feet and a maximum depth of 15 feet.”
Recent Site Issues (go to Musqueam First Nation website to read more)
image + text from the Musqueam First Nation website
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Musqueam seek land to swap to save site
First Nations in British Columbia + Vancouver Sun
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AFN, BCAFN and UBCIC Speeches at c̓əsnaʔəm - 2012-05-15 - part 1
Published on May 15, 2012 by Musqueam Nation
Assembly of First Nations National (AFN)
Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN)
Regional Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould (Puglaas), and Union of BC Indian
Chiefs (UBCIC) Grand Chief Stewart Phillip speak to protesters at the
ancient Musqueam village and burial site of c̓əsnaʔəm in Marpole,
Vancouver, Canada on 2012-05-15. Musqueam and their supporters are
protesting the destruction of the site and its burials for a condo
development.
part 2
More on Musqueam First Nation youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Yd_buR5eZTpEyFR0U2lKA
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CBC Marpole Midden facts:
Marpole Midden was
designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1933 because it is the
site of one of the largest pre-contact middens on the Pacific coast of
Canada.
This massive midden site contains remains of a Coast Salish winter
village dating from the Marpole phase culture, as well as shellfish
remains and various artifacts from early inhabitants of the site found
in an average depth of 1.5 metres and a maximum depth of 4.6 metres,
dating from 1500 to 2900 years ago.
The excavation of this extensive midden led by Charles Hill Tout, in
1892, has stimulated archaeological study of other such prehistoric
refuse heaps on the Pacific slope.
By 1955, urban expansion had significantly altered the landscape of
Marpole Midden, covering the site in homes, infrastructure and other
typical urban features.
Source: Canada's Historic Places + CBC
While the federal government has recognized the importance of the historical site, it's up to the provincial government to protect it. CBC
Chief Ernest Campbell ("RAW Musqueam") & Chief Bill Williams ("RAW Squamish") videos, posted (with ads): CBC
UPDATES:
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectTheVillageAndMiddenSiteOfMarpoleVillage
on twitter: @cusnaum
UPDATE
On September 27, 2012 Musqueam received the Province of B.C.’s decision regarding the permits issued by the Province under the Heritage Conservation Act to permit a 5 story condominium development at c̓əsnaʔəm, also known as the Musqueam Marpole Village Site. As recognized in the decision, this site was declared to be a National Historic Site in 1933 as one of the largest pre-contact middens in Western Canada and has special significance for Musqueam.
Musqueam is pleased that the proposed development is no longer authorized by the permits issued by the Province and that the ancestral remains are to be restored to their original condition. Their disturbance caused great anguish to the community and the proposed development would have desecrated an ancient and sacred burial place and destroyed a site precious to the Musqueam as representing one of the few links to our heritage extending back thousands of years. It would also have destroyed a Canadian historic site and a heritage site that should be protected for all British Columbians.
Musqueam looks forward to being actively involved in the steps to be taken to restore the ancestral remains in accordance with Musqueam customs and beliefs, steps that must be taken immediately to prevent further deterioration.
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