The place name ch’atlich is the shashishalhem name for the location of present day Sechelt (District Municipality) and means "side of land facing the far out (water)." The place name ch’atlich derives from the combination of the following shishalh words: ch'a : far out (on water), go far out (on water), offshore. -lich : side (of land facing water, of room, of obstacle, etc.), wall (of room). The words combine to mean the side of land facing the far out (water). In this instance the word is referencing the land facing the open ocean (Strait of Georgia). (Advice from shíshálh Nation Stewardship and Territorial Land Management Division, 2019)

Source: included with note

This place name is found in the Sechelt Dictionary on page 380. ch’atlich is an important area where shishalh would transport canoes over the isthmus as a navigational short cut to access the Sechelt Inlet. (Advice from shíshálh Nation Stewardship and Territorial Land Management Division, 2019)

Source: included with note

ch'atlich
• The first half of this word sounds like English 'chat', except that 'ch' has a throat-catch.
• In the second half of this word 'l' and 'ch' are pronounced as in English, but 'i' sounds like the 'A' in mate.
• Both syllables have strong stress.
ch'atlich is not capitalized.
(Advice from shíshálh Nation Stewardship and Territorial Land Management Division, 2019)

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Acknowledging with gratitude Raquel Joe (ch’elkwilwet), Museum Curator, tems swiya Museum, shíshálh Nation, and Steven Feschuk (xwash), Protector of Culture, shíshálh Nation, for providing the audio pronunciation.

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

To hear recordings of place names and learn other she shashishalhem words and phrases, visit shíshálh Nation’s language webpage: https://shishalh.com/culture-language/sechelt-language/

Source: included with note