Where the name "Cultus" came from
Originally, the Chilliwack first nation people called the lake "Swehl-tcha", a phrase that refers to a time before the lake was formed, but the commonly accepted name of "Cultus" actually comes from a Pidgin trade language used by indigenous peoples between Oregon and Alaska known as Chinook. In Chinook jargon, "Cultus" means worthless, bad, broken, unreliable, meaningless or dishonest. It was a common word that was often attached to other objects or people to describe them i.e. a cultus gift or a cultus man.
But how did such a beautiful lake get a name like that?
It would appear that ancient legend tells of several incidents that led the local people to believe the lake was mysterious and unwelcoming. According to legend, several creeks in the area led to an underground passage, where the lake now rests, wherein a young man was swept away by the current and disappeared while swimming. Sometime later his body was discovered in Mud Bay near Whiterock.
In another story, locals from the past also claimed to have twice found saltwater fish along the lakes shore without explanation.
Chilliwack first nation tradition also speaks of supernatural monsters or "shla-lah-kum" residing within the waters.
With all this strange, indescribable phenomena surrounding it, the lake made the people of the time uneasy and the descriptive Chinook name of "Cultus" was given to it.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinook_Jargon
http://www.cayoosh.net/hiyu/adject.html#engl
http://www.folklore.bc.ca/Cultuslake.htm
Originally, the Chilliwack first nation people called the lake "Swehl-tcha", a phrase that refers to a time before the lake was formed, but the commonly accepted name of "Cultus" actually comes from a Pidgin trade language used by indigenous peoples between Oregon and Alaska known as Chinook. In Chinook jargon, "Cultus" means worthless, bad, broken, unreliable, meaningless or dishonest. It was a common word that was often attached to other objects or people to describe them i.e. a cultus gift or a cultus man.
But how did such a beautiful lake get a name like that?
It would appear that ancient legend tells of several incidents that led the local people to believe the lake was mysterious and unwelcoming. According to legend, several creeks in the area led to an underground passage, where the lake now rests, wherein a young man was swept away by the current and disappeared while swimming. Sometime later his body was discovered in Mud Bay near Whiterock.
In another story, locals from the past also claimed to have twice found saltwater fish along the lakes shore without explanation.
Chilliwack first nation tradition also speaks of supernatural monsters or "shla-lah-kum" residing within the waters.
With all this strange, indescribable phenomena surrounding it, the lake made the people of the time uneasy and the descriptive Chinook name of "Cultus" was given to it.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinook_Jargon
http://www.cayoosh.net/hiyu/adject.html#engl
http://www.folklore.bc.ca/Cultuslake.htm