Nimkish
/ˈnɪm.kɪʃ/noun
Nimkish is an English-established name for a Kwakwaka’wakw Indigenous community, language variety, and associated place names in British Columbia.
Did you know?Nimkish is also associated with Nimpkish Lake and River on northern Vancouver Island, while historical sources use multiple spellings, including Nimpkish.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-contact
Kwak’wala
Uncertain source form
“The name derives from an Indigenous Kwakwaka’wakw linguistic context, but a securely documented literal translation is not established.”
19th Century
English
Nimkish
“An English ethnographic spelling used for a Kwakwaka’wakw community and language variety.”
19th–20th Century
English
Nimpkish
“A common variant spelling, especially in geographic names such as the Nimpkish River and Nimpkish Lake.”
Modern English
English
Nimkish
“An established proper name referring to the community, language variety, and related regional identities and places.”
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