MNH Against Racist Vandalism at c̓əsnaʔəm
Statement Against the Racist Vandalism at c̓əsnaʔəm
The Marpole Neighbourhood House Board and staff are upset, angered, and greatly saddened by the recent anti-Indigenous vandalism at the c̓əsnaʔəm village site, on the ancestral lands of the Musqueam people. As our neighbourhood and community are on the unceded, occupied, ancestral and traditional homelands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, we feel compelled to speak out against and condemn this terrible act and to offer the Musqueam band our support at this difficult time.
We also stand in solidarity with and in support of our BIPOC and Jewish neighbours who were targeted by the racist words and white supremacist symbols painted in Riverview Park over the weekend. Such acts are deplorable and we strongly condemn them. We value and respect our BIPOC friends and neighbours in Marpole.
While these recent deeply disgraceful actions do not reflect our values, we recognize that racism, discrimination, and colonialsm still exist within our community, our city, and our country.
These recent events are a call for reflection and action in our community. We all have a role to play in anti-racism, decolonization, and reconciliation. The banner defaced at c̓əsnaʔəm held had the word “nə́c̓aʔmat” on it, from the phrase nə́c̓aʔmat tə šxʷqʷeləwən ct - “We are of One Heart and Mind”. Our hope and our goal is to ensure Marpole is an inclusive, caring, and socially just community for all.
