Spul'u'kwuks Mural: Our Act of Reconciliation
Our staff and students worked extremely hard this year to fundraise for a mural to represent our school's name and on May 22nd, our community came together to celebrate its completion!
We had many guests including the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Trustees, Communications and Maintenance Departments, and the Richmond News. We were extremely fortunate to host Alec Dan, a Musqueam elder who gave a Musqueam Welcome; Ena Point and her three children from Musqueam, who are the family of the late Terry Point, who was involved with the naming of Spul’u’kwuks; Nora Stogan, from Musqueam and our Indigenous Success Team; and of course, Debra Sparrow, the artist and Musqueam elder. We learned about the Musqueam land, culture, and traditions from Alec and Debra, and shared with them the understandings we have come to learn. They were most impressed with the knowledge of our staff and students, and we are proud of the work we have done!
Our students reflected on the mural and shared their thoughts...
What connections can you make between the mural and what you already know about this place?
• "Spul'u'kwuks (our school's name) is the place of bubbling water. It was bubbling because there were so many salmon in the river."
• "The sturgeon is the symbol for the river protector."
• "We are on Musqueam land and the mural has Coast Salish shapes."
• "It reminds me of the view you can see at the dyke."
Why do you think the mural is important to our school?
• "Our school has an Indigenous name."
• "It shows we respect being on Musqueam land."
• "The mural is a way to protect the salmon by spreading awareness (Indigenous people only catch what they need)."
• "It tells the story of the land before settlers came."
• "It makes me happy."