Our research aims to tell an untold story of an indigenous community to raise awareness and to hopefully make a change. In 1989, Pacific Spirit Regional Park was established on the University Endowment Lands (UEL)—at University of British Columbia. The story is known to be a victory for the local residents and environmentalists who fought to protect the woodlands of UEL from development. Aside from this narrative, we found that there is a major one that has remained untold and forgotten. The woodlands of UEL are part of the traditional ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. Prior to establishment of the Pacific Spirit Park (PSP), the musqueam had submitted a land claim in 1977 then resubmitted in 1984, which were practically disregarded in the process of making a decision for the UEL woodlands.
Our group was curious to discover why the Musqueam were excluded from decision-making process of the UEL woodlands? Was it intentional? In what ways did the exclusion of the Musqueam play a role in the creation of the Pacific Spirit Park? And how the government benefitted from excluding the Musqueam? Most importantly, we wanted to find, understand then share the Musqueam narrative in this particular story. We hope that our research is a contribution—whether small or large—to the ongoing and vigorous efforts of indigenous communities telling their version of history and spreading their stories of injustice.