Musqueam First Nation, the Museum of Vancouver (MOV), and the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC partner on a groundbreaking exploration of the city's ancient landscape, and Musqueam's early history and living culture. c??sna??m, the city before the city is a series of three distinct exhibitions, opening simultaneously on January 25, 2015. The unified exhibitions will connect Vancouverites with c??sna??m - one of the largest ancient village and burial sites upon which Vancouver was built - sharing its powerful 5,000-year history and continuing significance.
"People often think of Vancouver as a new city, when in fact it is one of the most significant sites of ancient cultures in Canada - one that has even been compared to other societies such as the Egyptian and Roman societies," says Terry Point, Co-Curator of the Musqueam First Nation and MOV exhibitions. "Visitors toc??sna??m, the city before the city will learn it is part of an ancient landscape, and will discover aspects of Musqueam heritage, culture, and knowledge that have never before been shared with the public."Located in the area now commonly known as the neighbourhood of Marpole in Vancouver, c??sna??m is imbued with the history and culture of the Musqueam people. First occupied almost 5,000 years ago, c??sna??m became one of the largest of Musqueam's village sites approximately two thousand years ago. Generations of families lived at what was then the mouth of the Fraser River, harvesting the rich resources of the delta.Videos