| Feature Type: | River - Watercourse of variable size, which has tributaries and flows into a body of water or a larger watercourse. |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | Flows E into Omineca River, N of Germansen Landing (community), Cassiar Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 56°05'14"N, 124°32'19"W at the approximate mouth of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 94C/2 |
| Related Maps: |
94C/2 94C/3 94C/4 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Osilinka River (not Oosilinka, Osilinca nor Ozalinca) adopted in the 15th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 31 March 1917. Re-approved 7 December 1950 on 94C, and 4 June 1953 on 94C. Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office. |
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Spelled "Oslinca" on map in Geological Survey Report 1895; spelled "Ustlinkhah" on 1907 map of Northern Interior of British Columbia, by Fr. A.G.Morice. Spelled "Osilinka" on BC Lands' map 1H, 1917. The anglecized spelling "Oosiliinka" would be the nearest approximation to Indian pronunciation [source/date for pronunciation advice not cited.] The name means 'the river on which wild rhubarb grows' according to W. Steele, Mining Recorder at Manson Creek. About 50 miles in length. See "Wild Northland: A Winter Journey Across Northern North America 1872-73" by Sir William Francis "Osilinca" Butler; published in New York, 1903, with map; republished as part of the Trailmakers of Canada series by the Courier Press, Toronto, 1911. Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office. |
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Adapted from the Sekani name for the river, Uslì' Gah (Guzagi K'úgé, published by Kaska Tribal Council, Watson Lake, 1997). [origin/meaning not provided.] Source: included with note |