UBC officially opens new residence buildings with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm naming ceremony

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 from Musqueam: təməs leləm̓ – Sea Otter House; sqimək̓ʷ leləm̓ – Octopus House; sɬewət̕ leləm̓ – Herring House; q̓əlɬaləməcən leləm̓ – Orca House; and qʷta:yθən leləm̓ – Sturgeon House. “It is the university’s hope that through these names and the buildings’ design that residents and guests will develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of Musqueam history and storytelling,” said UBC President Santa Ono. UBC Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.