Mount Tzouhalem

Mount Tzouhalem on Vancouver Island, east-northeast of Duncan, is both a popular recreation area and a place deeply tied to Coast Salish history. Known earlier by the Indigenous name Shkewetsen, it figures in local flood traditions and takes its present name from Tzouhalem, a Quamichan chief remembered in regional stories for warfare, conflict with Fort Victoria in 1844, exile, and death in 1859. The mountain was also a traditional harvesting place, including camas grounds maintained by burning. In the late 20th century, local advocacy helped protect part of the mountain, leading to an ecological reserve that preserves notable Garry oak and wildflower habitat.

British Columbia · Canada