August Jack Khatsahlano facts for kids
August Jack (also known as Khatsahlano or X̱ats'alanexw) was an important Indigenous chief of the Squamish people. He was born on July 16, 1877, and lived until June 5, 1971.
August Jack was born in a village called Xwayxway. This village was located on the land that is now Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His father was Supple Jack "Khay-Tulk," and his mother was Sally "Owhaywat." August Jack inherited his name from his grandfather, Chief Khahtsahlano, who had moved to the area from the Squamish River. The name "Khatsahlano" means "man" in the Squamish language.
His Life and Home
When August Jack was about six years old, his father passed away. Soon after, his family faced a big change. City workers started building a road through their village. They began tearing down his family's home while they were still inside. This road was later named Park Road.
August Jack remembered that the road didn't touch his father's grave at first. But his family had to move away. Their home and village were destroyed. August Jack and other community members were moved to another Squamish village called Snauq. This village was located near where the Burrard Bridge is today. Some people also moved to a reserve at Kitsilano Point.
August Jack spent most of his early life in Snauq. He worked at a sawmill nearby. Around 1900, in a special ceremony, he received his grandfather's name, Khahtsahlano. His brother, Willie, was also named Khay-Tulk after their father. August Jack hosted a big celebration called a potlatch. He gave away many blankets to his guests.
In 1913, the government bought the land where the Snauq village was. August Jack then moved to the Squamish reserve. He married his wife, Swanamia (Mary Anne). They had five children: Emma, Celestine, Wilfred, Irene, and Louise. August Jack and his family lived in different Sḵwxwú7mesh villages, including Xwemelch'stn and Stawamus. Eventually, they settled back in Squamish in their own home on the reserve.
August Jack worked in logging and trapping. He was also skilled at building canoes and totem poles. He made carvings and helped move logs down the Squamish River. He often used his large canoes to take Squamish people to Vancouver. He and Swanamia lived there until he passed away.
History of the Land
People from Europe started settling in the Burrard Inlet area in the 1860s. However, Indigenous people had lived there for thousands of years. The village of Xwayxway, where August Jack was born, was one of the largest villages in the Burrard Inlet. The Squamish people were known for their fishing and hunting skills. They did not need farming to thrive.
The Squamish people were part of the Coast Salish Territory. They often moved between the Burrard Inlet and Squamish River areas. They would gather food in the Burrard Inlet during the summer and move north for the winter.
After European settlers arrived, sawmills were built. Many Indigenous Squamish people found work there. In the 1890s, land developers bought areas around the Snauq village. This happened without the proper permission from the government. Because of this, Khahtsahlano and the people of Snauq were forced to move to the Capilano Indian Reserve. Later, in 1976, the Squamish people asked the government for fair payment for their land.
His Important Legacy
Chief August Jack Khahtsahlano was a Squamish medicine man. He played a very important role in sharing the history of his people. He worked closely with some of Vancouver's first historians.
He had many conversations with J.S. Matthew, who was the first City Archivist of Vancouver. These talks were written down in a book called "Conversations with Khahtsahlano," published between 1932 and 1954. In these talks, they discussed many things. They talked about the history of the area, legends, and traditions like the Potlatch. They also discussed food preparation and plants used for medicine.
August Jack also worked with Oliver Wells to record his personal stories and history. This led to the book "Squamish Legends… The First People," published in 1966.
The Vancouver neighborhood known as Kitsilano is named after him. "Kitsilano" is an English version of his name, Khatsahlano. The Canadian Pacific Railway used this name when they developed the area. A high school, Kitsilano Secondary School, and a music festival in Vancouver, the Khatsahlano Music + Arts Festival, also use his name.
See Also
- Squamish people
- Stanley Park
- Kitsilano
