Indigenous History Month – Indigenous Placenames of Salt Spring Island

In 2003-2004, the late Frank Neumann and Chris Arnett, with the Salt Spring Island Historical Society, initiated a project to record Indigenous placenames and history on Salt Spring Island. They worked with Hul’q’umi’num’ and SENĆOŦEN-speaking elders, including the late Earl Claxton Sr., Ray Sam, Henry Edwards, Ernie Rice, Bob Akerman, Arvid Charlie, and August Sylvester. This work is based on their contributions and aims to document the island’s Indigenous history, although not all placenames are included due to privacy and ongoing treaty negotiations.

Before non-Indigenous settlement, Salt Spring Island was inhabited by SENĆOŦEN and Hul’q’umi’num’ speakers. The island is often shown as bisected by a linguistic boundary reflecting historical use. Of 34 known Indigenous placenames, five are officially recognized in the SENĆOŦEN language, located mainly in the south, while Hul’q’umi’num’ names predominate elsewhere. These names describe physical features and historical events, demonstrating the close relationship between the two languages and cultures.

Indigenous placenames serve as historical records, documenting land use and cultural narratives. Saanich scholar Dave Elliot Sr. and Hul’q’umi’num’-speaking scholar Ruby Peter highlighted their importance in preserving Indigenous knowledge and stories. Despite depopulation due to epidemics and colonization, many Indigenous placenames on Salt Spring Island remain, tied to food gathering, old settlements, and cultural teachings.

The project underscores the importance of Indigenous placenames in understanding history and maintaining cultural continuity. Elder Ernie Rice emphasized that these names hold deep meanings and must be studied to fully grasp their significance. This effort to record and recognize Indigenous placenames is a step toward integrating Indigenous knowledge into public history.

Indigenous Placenames of Salt Spring Island | Hul’q’umi’num’

Indigenous Placenames of Salt Spring Island | SENĆOŦEN

Please visit the Salt Spring Archives for the full story and interactive map describing the Indigenous Placenames of Salt Spring Island.