July 29, 1863: Three weeks to find our goods and reach (s )máqwam. We will never get to Barkerville! I promised my family I would be home before winter. How much ill fortune can Dr. R. meet?
SAMAHQUAM THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
An important fishing site, the village of Samahquam has been on the east side of the Lillooet River since ancient times. A busy community during the short-lived Douglas Trail boom, the village burned down in 1885. Undaunted, the people rebuilt and today, Samahquam is still an important In-SHUCK-ch community.
For more information about Samahquam, please visit www.inshuckch.com.
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Three Fun Facts about Samahquam
The village’s actual name was (s)máqwam, meaning “swampy area” and referring to the poorly drained field just north of the village along the Lillooet River.
Samahquam has an archaeological site designation and pithouses and historic cabins can be found here.
The majority of Samahquam’s schoolchildren attend the Xit'olacw community school in Mount Currie and Pemberton Elementary. Most high school students attend the Mount Currie School, Pemberton Secondary, or Mission Secondary.
