Ethno-historic Accounts of High Altitude Resource Use

Several areas in the Squamish river drainage are ethnographically know for high altitude resource pursuits (see Hill-tout 1900; Mathews 1955; Bouchard and Kennedy 1976a and b; and Bouchard and Turner 1976; Suttles 1990). The most notable recorded pursuit of these is mountain goat hunting.

Specific areas along the Squamish Cheakamus river divide of mountains are known for successful place to hunt goats. Other areas deemed good for hunting mountain goats are the mountains above the modern pulp mill Woodfiber, the Tantalus range north-west of the confluence of the Squamish Cheakamus river divide, and the mountains above what is now know as Deeks Creek (Bouchard and Kennedy 1976 a; Mathews 1955).

Goats were hunted in late fall, after their rutting season. It is at this time mountain goats are the fattest, and their fur is at its highest quality. During leaner years mountain goat were hunted in the Spring (Bouchard and Kennedy 1976 a; Mathews 1955) .

Actual hunting of mountain goats took many years of training and was only a status pursuit. The task of hunting mountains goats was believed to be dangerous pursuit. A successful hunt could only be accomplished if proper training was learned, the hunters "masked their human smell" with cedar boughs, and used specially trained hunting dogs (Bouchard and Kennedy 1976 a; Mathews 1955).

Once killed the mountain goats were used in several ways. The meat could be eaten fresh. Goat meat could also be dried or smoked for later consumption. Cakes of fat were rendered from the carcass and bones. These cakes were used as a salve "to protect ones face during cold weather." The mountain goat horns were split, made pliable and shaped in to spoons or other special instruments. The fur of the mountain goat was highly valued. The fur was woven together with dog fur and fireweed fibers then made into blankets. These blankets were viewed as status items, often given away at potlatches and ceremonial occasions (Bouchard and Kennedy 1976 a; Mathews 1955).

Other animals hunted in the high mountains include deer and elk. These animals were hunted in much the same way as mountain goats. The meat, and skins of these animals were used but not viewed as high status items (Bouchard and Kennedy 1976 a; Mathews 1955; Suttles 1990).