Diamond Point’s winning logos for həm̓ləsəm̓, q̓ələχən, and c̓əsnaʔəm houses at Totem Park.
In winter 2018, Musqueam and SHHS held a contest for aspiring Musqueam artists and youth and asked them to submit logo designs for the three houses that carry Musqueam place names at Totem Park: həm̓ləsəm̓, q̓ələχən, and c̓əsnaʔəm. The goal was to better reflect the Musqueam Nation’s art forms, history, and culture at Totem Park through the lens of Musqueam youth.
For the logos, the Musqueam-SHHS storytelling committee decided to feature birds that are native to each location: sawbill/merganser duck (həm̓ləsəm̓), bald eagle (q̓ələχən), and great blue heron (c̓əsnaʔəm).
The Winning Artist
Sarah Ling, Project Manager-Indigenous Focus, SHHS (left) and Andrew Parr, Managing Director, SHHS (right), present Diamond Point and daughter Jade (centre) with the contest award at the entrance of Totem Park’s c̓əsnaʔəm house.
We are delighted to announce that Diamond Point – a Musqueam artist and alumna of the UBC First Nations and Indigenous Studies program – is the winner for all three designs. She received a prize of $500 for each design, and her work will be used in a variety of materials including window decals at Totem Park and student T-shirts.
Beginning in September 2018, first-year residents at Totem Park will be fortunate to use and learn from Diamond’s work for years to come.
“I can’t believe that so many UBC students are going to pass by my artwork everyday and that I am able to share my art with the UBC community. I am also grateful that I was able to bring my daughter with me today and share this experience with her.” — Diamond Point, winner of the Musqueam-SHHS logo contest
New Storytelling Spaces at Totem Park
The Musqueam-SHHS Storytelling Committee, whose members worked together to name c̓əsnaʔəm House has also been developing additional educational materials and opportunities at Totem Park for students, visitors, and community members to learn more about the land, language, culture, and history of the Musqueam people.
c̓əsnaʔəm House
Check out some of the beautiful pieces that were recently installed at the front entrance of c̓əsnaʔəm House. Musqueam gifted the name for this house in September 2017.
həm̓ləsəm̓ and q̓ələχən Houses
At həm̓ləsəm̓ and q̓ələχən Houses, new storytelling displays in each of the lobbies will be installed this summer. Musqueam gifted the names for these houses in 2011.
Totem Park Heritage Houses
The original six heritage houses at Totem Park will also have new signage designed to share the origins of those names: Kwakiutl, Shuswap, Nootka, Dene, Haida, and Salish.
Totem Park Commonsblock
Additionally, the Totem Park Commonsblock is currently under renovation, with a number of key spaces dedicated to educational and storytelling materials about our location on unceded Musqueam territory. The installation of these exciting new materials will be finished by the end of fall 2018. Stay tuned for more updates as the work unfolds!
