hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Halkomelem hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓.

Proper noun

hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓

  1. Synonym of Halkomelem, in particular the variant of the Delta and the Lower Fraser River.
    • 2018 April 4, “UBC unveils bilingual Musqueam street signs on campus”, in CBC News[1]:
      According to a release from the university, which sits on traditional Musqueam land, the signs on nine campus streets supplement English names with names in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the traditional language of the Musqueam people.
    • 2022 June 11, “An urban First Nation reclaims stewardship over vast rainforest on Metro Vancouver’s doorstep”, in The Globe and Mail[2]:
      In their hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, the nation is properly known as the səlilwətaɬ, and the watershed is xʔəl̓ ílwətaʔɬ. But just a handful of members can speak the language. Gabriel George has spent years learning hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, to preserve a part of a culture that was close to being lost – a culture closely tied to the land.
    • 2023 June 7, The Canadian Presse, “New font gives fresh look to B.C. Indigenous languages, advances reconciliation”, in CTV News[3]:
      A sign at the University of British Columbia bus loop written in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the traditional language of the Musqueam peoples is shown in this handout image. A team worked for years to create a font that would match hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ characters with the university's official institutional font.
    • 2025 June 17, “Vancouver's Trutch Street is now šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street. Not everyone is happy”, in Vancouver Sun:
      A round of applause erupted Tuesday in the gallery of Vancouver city council chambers, after the city officially adopted its first street name in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the language of the Musqueam First Nation.

Usage notes

  • The hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ orthography does not normally use capital letters and this word isn’t capitalized in English either.

Halkomelem

Alternative forms

Proper noun

hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓

  1. (Downriver dialect) Halkomelem, in particular the variant of the Delta and the Lower Fraser River.