Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

Trading

Ancient Sq’éwlets people were active business people. They met communities from near and far at the annual salmon fishery on the Fraser River to work, trade, and feast together. In Halq’eméylem, the word xwoxwíyém means "to sell something to non-family." Our Sq’éwlets ancestors traded dried salmon for tools, foods, ornaments, and many other goods described in this section.

Inside of a shiny iridescent shell with ridged edges.
Inside of a shiny iridescent shell with ridged edges.
Inside of a shiny iridescent shell with ridged edges.
Inside of a shiny iridescent shell with ridged edges.
A white and cream coloured shell with rippled edges.
Eight white bone tubes of different lengths.
Dark green, smooth rock shaped into a rectangle with one sharpened edge.
A pale orange object with grey-green streaks.
A deep copper orange object with dark grey chunks.
Three small, flat sharp rocks above three larger black amorphous rocks.
Three black and very shiny rocks.
Three black and very shiny rocks.
Smooth surfaced white hollowed cup shaped like a pipe bowl.
Smooth surfaced white hollowed cup on white background.
Smooth white hollow tube and smooth surfaced white hollowed cup that appear like pipe pieces.