Murderers Bar
Feature Type:Bar (1) - A ridge or succession of ridges of sand or other unconsolidated material extending across the mouth of a river, harbour or bay and which may obstruct navigation.
Status: Official
Name Authority: BC Geographical Names Office
Relative Location: In Homathko River at the mouth of Rasmussen Creek, SW of Telhiqox Biny (lake), Range 2 Coast Land District
Latitude-Longitude: 51°15'59"N, 124°54'05"W at the approximate centre of this feature.
Datum: WGS84
NTS Map: 92N/7
Related Maps:
Origin Notes and History:

Adopted 5 October 1960 on map 92N as estabilished on Map 2D, Powell Lake, 1923 .

Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff, file M.1.55.

Probably takes its name from the massacre of Waddington party, April 1864 (information from B.C. Names Card, source not cited).

Name originally proposed to be an official name in 1922 but was "considered too small for card decision" so wasn't adopted at that time (L.I. January 1922).

Location at bend a bit further downriver (approximately at 51.2471, -124.9226) from current official name was considered but was not chosen because current location agreed with original submission (1922) and Map 2D, Powell Lake, 1923, and was also supported by airphotos which indicated a bar near mouth of Rasmussen Creek.

Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff.

The name “Murderers Bar” reflects a colonial narrative of an incident from the 1864 Chilcotin War, where workers of a road crew were killed by members of Tŝilhqot'in Nation at this location. This event led to the trial, conviction and execution of Six Tŝilhqot’in chiefs who have since been exonerated and recognized by the Federal Government as warriors and leaders protecting their lands and people.

Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff.