Clo-oose, British Columbia

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Clo-oose (tluu7uus or Nitinaht Indian Reserve No. 4) is a Ditidaht village of the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is located in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the west coast of Vancouver Island, about 65 kilometres (40 miles) south of Port Alberni. It is located at 48°39′N, 124°49′W[1] Its population is approximately 50[2] and consists of members of the Ditidaht First Nation.

[edit] History

The name Clo-oose comes from the Nitinaht word 'tlu7uus which means "camping place." It is not clear when Clo-oose first became a permanent village. When the reserve was surveyed in 1892, there were seven houses and in 1906, John T. Walbran mentioned it by name in his book on British Columbia coast names: "Clo-oose, situated about a mile eastward of the entrance to Nitinat Lake, is ... the principle village in the neighbourhood".[3] Prior to its establishment as a village, it served as a favourite resting spot for the native halibut fishermen.[4] On 1 September 1911, the Clo-oose post office was opened and it served the community for nearly 55 years, finally closing on 11 August 1966.[5]

[edit] Meaning of the name

There are several interpretations of the Nuu-chah-nulth word "Clo-oose":

  • "safe landing"[6]
  • "stop to camp"[7]
  • "other men's houses"[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Natural Resources Canada
  2. ^ BC Stats – Census 2001
  3. ^ Walbran, John T; British Columbia Coast Names,: their origin and history; Ottawa, 1909 (republished for the Vancouver Public Library by J.J. Douglas Ltd, Vancouver, 1971)
  4. ^ Akrigg, Helen B. and Akrigg, G.P.V; British Columbia Place Names; Sono Nis Press, Victoria 1986 or University of British Columbia Press 1997
  5. ^ BC Geographical Names Information System
  6. ^ S.J. Hartnell, Industrial Timber Mills Bulletin, Youbou, October 1933
  7. ^ Victoria Colonist, Islander magazine, 7 August 1966
  8. ^ Victoria Colonist, Islander magazine, 1 July 1967