The University of British Columbia has officially opened five new residence buildings with a naming ceremony hosted by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band). The buildings had received a hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ collective name in 2021: tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ (The Houses of the Ones Belonging to the Saltwater). Each building has now received its own name: təməs leləm̓ – Sea Otter House; sqimək̓ʷ leləm̓ – Octopus House; sɬewət̕ leləm̓ – Herring House; q̓əlɬaləməcən leləm̓ – Orca House; and qʷta:yθən leləm̓ – Sturgeon House. Musqueam Elder Larry Grant led a naming ceremony, where he discussed the significance of each name and called for residents to learn the meaning behind the names. “Don’t rely on what’s just written on a plaque. The English language can’t convey the full meaning,” said Grant.
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