BC Geographical Names

Nagwentled [Nag-went-let]

Feature Type:	Canyon (2) - Deep, narrow valley with precipitous walls.
Status:	Not official Lookup the official name
Relative Location:	Along Chilcotin River, between Big Creek and Fraser River, Lillooet Land District
Latitude-Longitude:	51°49'59"N, 122°33'58"W at the approximate centre of this feature.
Datum:	WGS84
NTS Map:	92O/15

Origin Notes and History:

The Tŝilhqot’in name "Nagwentled" roughly translates to 'landslides across the river' describing the frequent mass-wasting in that canyon. Tŝilhqot’in elders describe the canyon long ago (before the landslides) being so narrow that the bravest could jump across (Advice from Tŝilhqot’in National Government, 2018).

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

For countless generations, "Nagwentled" has been a major gathering place for the Tŝilhqot’in during the ts’eman (sockeye salmon) & jeŝ (spring salmon) runs because the canyon provides the perfect rock formations to facilitate dip-net fishing (Advice from Tŝilhqot’in National Government, 2018).

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