History
I hope these notes about the park's history enhance your next visit. You'll be able to point out where the graveyard is and where the lake was. Those faint marks you see here and there in the grass won't be a mystery any more. Do you know where the wading pool was? Read on and you'll know that and more.
Mid 1800's
In 1871 the Kwantlen Nation was deeded a 40 acre (16 hectares) site on Old Yale Road as part of their treaty lands. It wasn't long after it's creation that the new reserve solved an unusual problem for the people of New Westminster.
Seems the residents on their trips across the Fraser were shocked at being confronted with the very visible First Nation way of dealing with the dead. Fastened to the trees on the Surrey side of the Fraser there were numerous burial boxes in various states of decay. It wasn't uncommon to have the contents spilling out at times.
It was decided the remains should be collected and given a Catholic burial on the Kwantlen reserve. I'm not sure how much say the First Nations had in that discusion. Father Dereau laid them to rest in two or three graves marked with one large wooden cross. The site in the reserve was used as a cemetary for the Kwantlens until the 1920's. By then there were no Kwantlens left living on the reserve. The land gradually fell into disrepair over the next 30 years.
You won't find any sign of the graveyard now. There was very little left when the city, in the early 60's, cleared and filled the park site in anticipation of creating a new city park. If you stand in the skatepark and face towards 104 Ave you will be looking over the grassy blanket those early dwellers now lie under. It would be right to have some formal recognition of that fact but the city has never seen fit to put up a marker even after several requests over the years.
randy@kwantlenpark.ca
Updated Feb. 28, 2009 Copyright 2009