Long before the arrival of European settlers in the Vancouver area in 1791, Squamish ancestors had a village at Sen̓áḵw. Every year, families from upper Squamish villages would travel down to Sen̓áḵw, where the lands and waters were ideal for fishing, hunting, and harvesting traditional resources. There was an abundance of elk, beaver, deer, salmon, duck, cedar, and more. The Squamish people built longhouses and brought neighbouring tribes together for potlatches. Sen̓áḵw was an important hub for trade, commerce, social relationships, and cultural practices.