There are a few schools in the lowermainland with Indigenous names. In this blog entry I will be listing these schools over the next little while. This is in part a response to the opportunity in Vancouver (SD39) to be able to suggest a name for a new school near UBC.
In Richmond a new school, opened in 2000, has a Musqueam name.
Spul’u’kwuk’s Elementary School opened in September 2000 and is located in the north-west corner of Richmond, in the area known as Terra Nova [new land -an unfortunate district name given the history of colonizations. Somewhat ironic when paired with the indigenous school name. ED]. It is situated in an area of park land and new homes, close to the Middle Arm of the Fraser River and the western dyke bordering the Strait of Georgia. The name of the school is from the Musqueam First Nation and means “place of bubbling water”, in reference to the spring water which bubbled up in the area. Many years ago a Musqueam permanent seasonal fishing settlement was situated close to the site of the present school. Since it opened our school has grown quite rapidly and is now a mid-size to large school that has approximately 425 students.
Students at Hamilton Elementary did a small history project in 2000 on the role and place of Musqueam people in Richmond. You can find it here.
I am pleased to note that the Norma Rose Point School, in the UBC area, will be joining this small but illustrious list of schools named in honour of First Nations people.