Point Grey Peninsula, end of “Great Trek”

The “Great Trek” began as a 1922 protest march that led to UBCs current location in Point Grey. At the time, the act was heralded as activism and celebrated, despite co-opting Indigenous land. In the UBC student newspaper, Point Grey was referred to as “wilderness”, despite being stewarded by Indigenous people. 

Today, the memory of the “Great Trek” is used to name events and scholarships. Each year, a commemorative race occurs honouring the trek. While the race acknowledges that it occurs through Musqueam territory, it neglects to mention the colonial history that shadows the event. 

The “history” section of the Great Trek website speaks to hope and necessary expansion but does not consider the implications of construction and continued operation on unceded territory.