Celebrating the launch of the Vancouver Archives digitized version of Early Vancouver online:

The First Gasoline Service Station in Canada (perhaps in the world), a drawing by Major J. S. Matthews, first gas station attendant, later City Archivist (Item # EarlyVan_v2_137). Also: The Pioneer Gas Station of Canada (probably of the world), a painting by John Innes (Item # EarlyVan_v7_037).

Congratulations again, Vancouver Archives! Now everyone, back to your historic reading assignments!

Celebrating the launch of the Vancouver Archives digitized version of Early Vancouver online:

Previously posted here in black and white from a book, I simply had to post the full colour unedited version, with it’s far more provocative title! Indian Names for Familiar Places becomes Before the Pale-Face Came; Indian Names for Familiar Places, by Major J. S. Matthews, City Archivist (Item # EarlyVan_v2_002).

I’d also like to reemphasize the academic paper by Jean Barman at UBC, Erasing Indigenous Indigeneity in Vancouver, one of the few references I found to the map before the digitization of Early Vancouver. Her paper is also available as a PDF and an audio download, read by the author no less! (If the PDF is unavailable, check the Google cache.)

The accompanying text provides important context for the map, from the very start of Early Vancouver, Volume 2:

Indian Villages and landmarks. Burrard Inlet and Howe Sound, Before the whiteman came to Ulksen (Point Grey).

The populous Indian communities of the Musqueam and Squamish tribes, resident before the advent of the whitemans upon the shores of English Bay and Burrard Inlet and adjacent waters, had numerous appellations in their own tongue for localities within their territories, a practice no less necessitous to residents in a land clothed with forest as are the names of streets in a city to us.

These Indian place names, once so numerous, have fallen into almost complete disuse; one only, the Indian village of Musqueam on the North Arm of the Fraser River, first mentioned by Simon Fraser in his Journal of the exploratory expedition down the Fraser in August 1808, as “Misquiame,” survives to be used by English speaking people as the designation of a place within the limits of the city of Vancouver. The names Kitsilano and Capilano are creations, founded on Indian names.

Excepting the more elderly Indians, survivors of pre-railway days, now numbering probably ten or a dozen only, together with two or three white pioneers, all knowledge of the sixty or more place names in and about Vancouver Harbour, appears to have been lost. A few of the younger Indians are aware of one or two names; even among the older Indians none can give a complete list. The following list was prepared by the City Archivist, Major J.S. Matthews, after diligent enquiry among a large number of Indians over a period of months. The proper spelling was not known by any person, Indian or white, and as recorded here, was adopted after many conferences with the more elderly Indians in company with Andrew Paull (Qoitchetahl), secretary of the Squamish Indian Council of Chiefs. Professor Chas. Hill-Tout and Rev. C.M. Tate also lent their aid. Acknowledgements are also made to F.J.C. Ball, Esq., Indian Agent, Vancouver; August Kitsilano, Chief Matthias Capilano, Haxten, Yahmas, Queyahchulk, Ayatak and Chillahminst.

In commenting upon the effort, Chief Matthias Joe Capilano said, “That was a part of our history which had been lost; we have it now.” A resolution of thanks to Major Matthews was passed by the Squamish Indian Council.

The preservation of these Indian names is largely due to a suggestion that the archivist be requested to furnish a list of pioneers of very early days to be guests of the city at the opening of the Burrard Bridge. The archivist included the name of August Jack—otherwise August Kitsilano—born under the bridge about 1878, and in conversations with this Indian, a man of splendid character and commanding stature but not of chief’s rank, was told one or two of the old Indian names, and this led to the completion of the list at the end of nine months endeavour.

J.S. Matthews

Kitsilano Beach

17 March 1933

(A complete list of the Indian Place names is published in Early Vancouver, Vol 2; for the highest resolution, download the ODF file format of Volume 2)

Vancouver, 1792, a painting by Jim McKenzie, with Native Place Names overlaid, as seen in Donald E. Waite’s book, Vancouver Exposed, a History in Photographs. This is a remarkable reinterpretation of the map by City Archivist, Major J.S. Matthews, Indian Names for Familiar Places. The book Vancouver Exposed is available at Don’s website and at Black Bond Books, and prints of the painting on paper or canvas by Jim McKenzie (without the text) are also available here.

Update: And as seen on a street mural near 265 25 Street, West Vancouver! (via Google Street View) Thanks, Robert!

Detail from the map of old place names, compiled by Major J. S. Matthews. “It might have been Albert City, New Georgia. It was Granville, British Columbia. It is Vancouver, Canada.” From the book Early Vancouver: narratives of pioneers of Vancouver, B.C., collected during 1931-1932.

Indian Names for Familiar Places, a map created by Major J. S. Matthews of the Vancouver Archives. Created “from information given verbally by aged Indians of the Squamish and Musqueam tribes, 1932. Approved, Squamish Indian Council.” As seen reprinted in the book Vancouver’s First Century: A City Album, 1860-1960, edited by Anne Kloppenborg.

UPDATE! See the repost, in colour!