More about Won Alexander Cumyow and a connection with Sir James Douglas

A little more info for you on a person who might soon appear on Canadian currency… 

(Image credit: Wikipedia)

Won Alexander Cumyow is mentioned quite a few times in BC newspapers during his lifetime, but I found relatively little there about his connection with Chinook Jargon.

Deeply researched book-length studies have been more helpful.

From the book “Yi Fao: Speaking through Memory: A History of New Westminster’s Chinese Community, 1858-1980” by Jim Wolf and Patricia Owen (Surrey, BC: Heritage House, 2008).

— pages 15-16

— page 27

From Darren Friesen’s 2006 USask history thesis, “Canada’s Other Newcomers: Aboriginal Interactions with People from the Pacific“:

— page 80

From the “Trans-Pacific Records Research Guide” of the British Columbia Archives, a lead to a sound recording of Won Alexander Cumyow’s son:

— page 12

What do you think?

fsad