By Wolfgang Wittenburg
Published: Feb 2, 2013
What should the people hailing from Squamish be called?
A place name is one thing, the association of that name with ‘that is where I make my home’, or ‘that is where I come from’, is another. Easy to say ‘I am a Berliner’, a ‘Bostonian’, a ‘San Franciscan’, but how about ‘I am a Squa….?’
Hard to decide from the smorgasbord of: I am a ‘Squamolean’, ‘Squamite,’ ‘Squamishite’, ‘Squamishion’, ‘Squamishtian’, ‘Squamisher’ (or heaven forbid!) ‘Squamptonian or ’Squamptonite’.
I am sure readers could think of even more name composites.
I ran this by one of our local historians, Eric Andersen, and to my surprise he pulled out an old newspaper clipping of the ‘Squamish Times’ dated July 10, 1957 from his historical treasure chest, showing that they grappled with this already more than 50 years ago without resolution.
Well, nobody can say that we aren’t a cautious lot before making decisions.
‘Squamolian’ appears to be the current favorite and is often seen printed in the ‘Chief’.
Doesn’t it bring up a vision of something burrowing underground, perhaps a small long nosed rodent? It might just work if our heritage were mining, but for one based on lofty trees and great vistas? Naahh!
How about ‘Squamite’ or ‘Squamishite’?
If the first one does not sound like something you would prefer not sharing your mattress with, then surely it must remind you of almost inedible army food.
On ‘Squamishite’, the writer of the ‘Squamish Times’ said: ‘Would you stand quietly and be called that?’ The same comment could be made about the streetwise ‘Squamptonian’ or ‘Squamptonite’ when used by outsiders.
‘Squamishion’, again according to the ‘Squamish Times’, has a ‘redolent, native sound, with some truth in it’. I also detect a certain New England snootiness in its ending.
How about a ‘Squamishtian’ then? Sounds too much like a follower of some weird new cult. Lastly let’s look at ‘Squamisher’, which the old local ‘Times’ describes as ‘sounding competitive’. Now we are getting somewhere!
‘Squamisher’ also has a whiff of rough-and-tumble about it, of lumberjacks, deep woods and fast rivers.
Eric tells me that the strong wind blowing from the north is called the ‘Squamisher’ and is referred to as the ‘Squamish wind’ by tugboat captains even for strong winds blowing out of inlets other than Howe Sound.
He further informs me that ‘Squamisher’ is also the title of two beautiful paintings of windswept local landscapes by Donald Flather. Who could miss the strong First Nation mythology contained in the ‘Squamisher’?
As a relatively new ‘Squamisher’, I would not dare setting myself up as an arbiter for what descriptive we should use for ‘people from Squamish’.
I admit, however, that I very much like the imagery of the energy of the strong ‘Squamisher’ blowing down from the mountains and whipping up Howe Sound to show the world that we are a competitive and hardy community here in Squamish, full of promise for the future.
Jean says
It is easy… South of the Mashiter Creek, lets call them Squamisher!!!!North of the Mashiter they are the Squamishiters
Now that is real easy North and South. North of the Mashiter Creek…the North normally liberal with some rednecks.. possible some of the older Log- Royalty and with the trophy business such as the Liquor store, soon CIBC and #2 Horton, the Buss and London Drug and some hip Food and Closing stores and lets incorporate the Republic of Brackendale with Tor,s gallery and Refuge, as well as the Airport.
The middle should also be recognized possible as the ” Republic of Finch Drive” where presently the Urban Sprawl is occurring, attacking the few fiercely Loyal Green hold out,s with some organic growers and self sufficiency partisans, out to Defend the encroachment of the masses as described by the Planing Gurus as an attack by the Urban Sprawl or sprawlers from the south, looking for a fast … you know what, in the only flat and pristine area close to town, with still little population and pollution that would be extremely well suited for more green growing and hobby farms or small Enterprises as for start up business, of a small and non encroaching manner, possible when big enough and prosperous, to become the much needed tenants in the almost empty Concrete blocks in the Industrial Park, that would supply jobs for those poor soles, sold on living in Paradise, but to tired to enjoying-it, by daily commuting and polluting the Sea to Sky, to make it to town for employment every day.
Eric Andersen says
Bravo! Great observations. (But doesn’t the Mashiter run north-south?)
Lynda gerhardt says
Pretty sure you mean the mamquam not mashiter…….and I’ve only lived here 8 years……
just gary says
Hello Wolfgang:
Squamisher would be my choice, of those offered up to now. Of all the others mentioned, no thanks. If one wants to refer to themself as something else, good luck. I’ve been here over 30 years and not found it necessary to hang a tag on myself as to where I’m from.
Later,
gary.
Jim Harvey says
Clearly Wolfgang is new to town. One lives either north or south of the Mamquam River. There are only a few lonely souls living east of the Mashiter.
Cheers
Jim
Wolfgang Wittenburg says
Did I say something about Mashiter Creek in my article, Jim?
Jim Harvey says
Ooops, sorry Wolfgang. It was a subsequent writer that referenced the Mashiter. Clearly, I’m the one losing it!
Marnie Lett says
Why don’t we short list it and put out a big ballot box and vote on it at the Squamish 100 celebrations kicking off as soon as February 2014?
Cheryle says
How about “I live in Squamish”. All said and done.
I have lived in a lot of communities and never had to worry about a moniker as to where I live.
I am a Canadian and live in Squamish. Period
Wolfgang Wittenburg says
Why don’t you also say ‘I live in Canada?’ Don’t take this too seriously 🙂 🙂