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TIME TRAVELLER: Chief Charlie and Squamish language revitalization

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Chief Dominic Charlie (Tsee-Qawl-tuhn) was born or baptized on Dec. 25, 1885. He was the son of Jericho Charlie, the namesake of Jericho Beach in Vancouver.
time traveller

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Chief Dominic Charlie (Tsee-Qawl-tuhn) was born or baptized on Dec. 25, 1885.  He was the son of Jericho Charlie, the namesake of Jericho Beach in Vancouver.

Chief Charlie taught many Squamish children to speak Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish language), providing them with a sense of pride and self-worth. He and his half-brother August Jack Khahtsahlano collected stories and saw them published as Squamish Legends: The First People (1966).

Charlie was also known for his frequent appearance in the newspapers, predicting with impressive accuracy the long-range weather for that year. Chief Charlie died Sept. 9, 1972; news of his death was reported in newspapers all over North America.

Click here for more information about the history of the North Shore and to learn about MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver, opening in 2021. 

Currently, the Archives of North Vancouver at 3203 Institute Road in Lynn Valley is open by appointment only. Click here to email the archives.