Squamish Nation requests to change name of Mount Garibaldi
A BC First Nation whose traditional territory spans parts of Metro Vancouver and the Sea to Sky Corridor has submitted a request to the BC government to change the name of an iconic mountain.
BC’s Geographical Names office confirmed the Squamish Nation wants Mount Garibaldi to be officially renamed Nch’k̀±aỳ“ (pronounced in-ch-kay) to honour their historical and cultural relationship to the area.
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Wilson (SxwĂxwtn) Williams, councillor and spokesperson for the Squamish Nation, told Daily Hive requesting the name change has been a process the Nation has been working on for some time, part of which involved building a relationship with the District of Squamish, the municipality of the mountain town sharing the same name as the First Nation.
“It’s always been Nch’k̀±aỳ“ to our people,” Williams said. “True reconciliation is sharing the story of the land and how it connects to us as people.”
The mountain features prominently in one of the most important Squamish legends, where Squamish people are said to have attached their canoes to the mountain during the great flood.
“It tells us a story of our people being resilient, persevering and having that mindset of preparation for critical events that Mother Nature gives,” he said. “This legend itself really, really shows the story of strength and how deeply rooted we are the area itself.”
The name Nch’k̀±aỳ“ also references the water that flows from the mountain to the Cheekye River. It can appear dirty because of the volcanic ash caught up in the flow.
The government has opened a public comment period on the proposed name change, and opinions can be shared until December 31, 2023. Communications director Corinna Filion estimated the renaming process could take several weeks or months, depending on the volume of comments received.
“Recognizing Indigenous place names is part of BC’s work to advance reconciliation and implement the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act,” she said.
Panorama Ridge in Garibaldi Provincial Park (Marina Poushkina/Shutterstock)
The striking volcanic mountain and the provincial park in which it lies are both named after Guiseppe Garibaldi, an Italian best known for his conquest of Sicily and Naples. Garibaldi never set foot in BC, and the mountain was so named because of a British surveyor’s admiration for him.
The mountain and the hiking trails surrounding it are now hugely popular with hikers who want to complete iconic routes including Panorama Ridge and the Black Tusk.
“The name has always been Nch’k̀±aỳ“ since time immemorial. But for it to be acknowledged publicly and formally as Nch’k̀±aỳ“ would be an honour,” Williams said. “My grandfather always said, you’ve got to know where you came from to know where you’re going.”