Squamish Nation requesting official name change of Mount Garibaldi

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) has officially requested that the name of Mount Garibaldi be changed.

The Nation submitted the request to the BC Geographical Names Office, asking that the mountain be renamed to the ‎Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim word “Nch’ḵay̓,” which is the name used by the Nation.

In a Sept. 21 letter to the District of Squamish’s mayor and council, Trent Thomas, provincial toponymist with the names office, acknowledged the request and asked the Nation to provide more information so they can proceed.

According to a note on the Geographical Names website, the Squamish Nation has called the mountain Nch’ḵay̓ for thousands of years.

“The name means ‘Dirty Place’ or ‘Grimy one’ and comes from the tendency for the Cheekye River to look muddy in colour, a result of volcanic debris in the area that colours the water and surrounding landscape,” the Names Office said online, explaining this information was provided by the Squamish Nation.

Related links:

• Kits Point residents’ petition to stop Indigenous-led development dismissed by court

• Feds providing $5.5M towards Squamish Nation affordable housing

The note adds Nch’ḵay̓ is considered sacred by the Nation.

“Their oral history talks of a time of a great flood when Nch’ḵay̓ played a central role in the survival of the Squamish people,” it explained. “During the great flood, the waters rose to such an extent that only Nch’ḵay̓ and several other taller mountains remained above the water. The Squamish people tethered their canoes to the top of Nch’ḵay̓ using rope made from cedar trees until the water receded.”

The note says the name is also important to the Nation for ceremonial reasons, navigation, predicting the weather, gathering food, and animal hunting.

Mount Garibaldi is located to the east of the Cheakamus River between Squamish and Whistler. It was named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was an Italian General in the 1800s.

“It is unlikely Garibaldi ever visited British Columbia,” the BC Geographical Names Office said.

The District has until Dec. 31 to respond with further information before next steps are taken.

“In accordance with the BC Geographical Naming Policy and Procedures (the Policy), before any naming decisions are made, it is important to ascertain a) if there are other known traditional names for this feature, and b) that the proposed name reflects the heritage values in the area,” the office said.