Jack, August

Identity area

Type of entity

Person

Authorized form of name

Jack, August

Parallel form(s) of name

  • Chief August Jack Khahtsahlano

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Other form(s) of name

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Description area

Dates of existence

1877 - June 14, 1967

History

Chief August Jack was a notable Squamish Indian who was an experienced Indian guide, trapper, logger, a talented canoe builder, and one of the last of the medicine men and traditional Indian dancers. In addition to this, he was also one of the last of the Squamish Indians to perform the "rituals of manhood" that qualify you as a true Indian brave. This involved a young man going into the mountains to fast and meditate until one was "visited by the spirit".

August Jack was born at the False Creek Indian Reserve of "Snauq" (c 1877), an area later called "Kitsilano" in honour o fhis grandfather (his father's father), Chief Khahtsahlanogh. August Jack was the son of Supple Jack ("Khay-Tulk" of Chaythoos) and Sally ("Owhaywat", who originally was from a village in Squamish). Old Chief Khahtsahlanogh had migrated from his ancestral home at Toktakamic on the Squamish River and settled at Chaythoos.

Supple Jack died the day August Jack was born. His mother remarried Shinatset (Jericho Charlie whose first wife's name was Menatlot for the first years of his life.

August Jack lived at the village of Snaq until the reserve land was bought by the government in 1913. He, along with many other Squamish Indians from this village, moved up to the reserve in Squamish. In Squamish, prior 1900, patronymic of his grandfather was conferred upon him and that of "Khaytulk" upon his brother Willie. He later moved back to Vancouver to the North Vancouver reserve where he became an honoured elder and skilled carver.

In 1938 he renounced the name Jack and became August Jack.

He married Swanamia (Mary Anne) and they would have 5 children: Emma, Celestine, Wilfred, Irene, and Louise. Louise now lives in the home in Squamish (Kowtain Reserve) that the band arranged for August Jack and Swanamia to move into in 1961. August Jack remained here until his death (June 14, 1967) at age 91.

Places

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Functions, occupations and activities

Chief August Jack lived on the K-YAU-tain reserve for some time after having left the village of Snauq (False Creek) about 1913. He held various jobs in the area: logging, trapping, etc. He drove logs down the Squamish River while working for Allan Barbour. He was noted for being a very talented canoe-builder, and often "ferried" many of the Squamish Indians to Vancouver in his large, heavy canoes.

Mandates/sources of authority

Squamish Public Library, Squamish Files: First Nations.

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Authority record identifier

AJ01

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  • EAC

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