BC: “Tyhee Conomody, Atkiso, and Kwikwetlem First Nation” (land disputes in Chinook, etc)
In British Columbia History magazine 52:2 (Summer 2019), pages 26-31, we get some insight into the role of Chinook Jargon in the early frontier era of BC.
Image credit: Kwikwetlem First Nation
Some originally Irish, but already globe-trotting, immigrants of 1859 into BC (previously of Hawai’i and Australia) showed up in Kʷkʷeƛ̓əm lands:
The Atkins family arrived in Victoria British
Columbia, from Hawaii, in December 1859. They
continued on to colonial New Westminster, where
Stephen Atkins, or “Atkiso” as the Coast Salish called
him, became acquainted with Colonel Richard Moody
or “Tyhee Conomody” as the locals referred to him,
who was the commander of the Royal Engineers (or
Sappers), Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works,
“Tyhee” = taiyi = táyí ‘chief’. Conomody = Colonel Moody, get it?
Here’s some more:
In March 1863, Governor James
Douglas arrived at Marshall Island.
On this excursion on the Fraser
River, “chance led the party up the
Coquitlam where we determined
to dine,” according to the Colonial
Secretary. The Governor, Colonial
Secretary, Attorney General, and
Royal Engineer William McColl
– along with their wives – were
hosted by Stephen Atkins. Attorney
General Henry Crease explains how
the visit soon turned an impromptu
summit for the Kwikwetlem band
to discuss their reserve lands with
Governor Douglas directly.The group walked the “reserve
as then staked out explaining to
the indians present what their
ground was.” McColl created a large
sand map, using “a stick, roughly
described the alteration made by
marks on the sand which Sir James
translates into Chinook” to the
assembled band members. The
Kwikwetlemexplained their wants, pointing out on the sand
the position of the “Atkiso house” as they call it,
Sir James explained, and shewed [SIC] them how an
additional slice of the ground had been staked
out for them on
survey.
“Atkiso house” can be taken as valid Chinook Jargon. We often find personal name + hous (háws), as well as the expected possessive formation, personal name + yaka + hous.
Thanks to reader Alex Code for this find.
