qathet Museum & Archives
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Cranberry/ χaʔaji


The first group to occupy the neighbourhood of Cranberry were the Tla'amin people who called the area χaʔaji (Xah ah jee) after the wild cranberries which grew on the periphery of Cranberry Lake. Traditionally, Cranberry Lake is a spiritual place in Tla'amin culture. Prior to the arrival of settlers and the consequent confinement of First Nations people to reserves, Tla'amin people used Cranberry Lake for spiritual retreats and cedar baths, as well as a place for harvesting the nutritious berries. The knowledge of Cranberry Lake as a spiritual place comes from the Tla'amin legend of the Ihohs. The Ihohs, meaning double headed serpent in the ʔayʔajuθəm language, is a creature which lived in an underground cave system below Cranberry. According to the legend, Cranberry lake was formed when the Ihohs created a dam on a creek leading into Mowat Bay, causing the basin to flood.  
 
Tla'amin people had traplines all around Powell Lake. Mowat Bay was said to be a village site before the lake was dammed. Not only for the Tla'amin people, it is said that the Homalco and Klahoose people used to come and stay with the Tla'amin. 

Early settlers to the region also found the cranberries a welcome addition to their diet as they waited on deliveries of food and other supplies brought by boat from Seattle and Vancouver. What is now known as the community of Cranberry Lake is located in an area approximately 200 acres in size located a mile south east of Powell River. In 1910 virgin forest still dominated the landscape, but wth the arrival George Smarge, Magnus P. Olson and George McFall who filed a 52 acre mineral claim on the western side of the lake, Cranberry was on its way to becoming one of the early Districts in Powell River.


Cranberry was the first suburb of Powell River (now known as Townsite) as it was within easy walking distance of the mill. In 1915, Mowat and Wasser built a shingle mill with Edwin Profit serving as supervisor until it closed in 1919.

Longtime Cranberry residents Clara and Andy Anderson
Cranberry Orchard, the Butterys, and the "pest house"
Mowat Bay
Lindsay Park
​ 
Picture
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday
10 am to 3 pm

Closed Statutory Holidays
Contact Us
604-485-2222
info@qathetmuseum.ca
​4790 Marine Avenue, Powell River BC

© 2023 qathet Museum & Archives
​Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of material on this website. Dates and times are subject to change. 
Territorial Acknowledgement 
The qathet Museum & Archives is located on the traditional territories of the Tla’amin Nation. The Museum is committed to collaborating with all Indigenous peoples of this province including the Tla'amin Nation. We acknowledge the harms of the past, are committed to improving relationships in the spirit of reconciliation, and we extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live and learn on this territory. ​Emote!
  • Exhibits
    • Current Exhibits
    • Forestry Building
    • Virtual Exhibits >
      • Riveting Women
      • Symphonies of the Sunshine Coast
      • Capturing Mountains
      • Story of Cedar
      • Powell River Firsts
      • Rod LeMay Collection
  • Collections
    • Objects
    • Archives >
      • Research Requests
      • Indexes & Finding Aids
      • Archival Descriptions
      • Powell River Digester
      • Phone Books & Directories
      • Good Citizen
      • Record of Military Service
    • Local History Books
  • Programs
    • Public Programs Calendar >
      • Little Wonders
      • Spring Speaker Series
      • Fall Speaker Series
      • Mini-Curators
      • Papermaking
      • Summer Camps
      • Museum In the Park
      • Archaeology Day
    • School Programs >
      • Exhibit Visits
      • Outreach Kits
      • Portal to the Past
      • Educator's Survey
    • Virtual Programs >
      • Virtual Portal To the Past
      • A Taste of qathet's History
      • The Crafty Corner
      • Dive Into the Archives
    • Tours
    • Memoirs
  • Learn
    • Indigenous History
    • Place Names
    • Forestry History
    • Memories of the Mill
    • Community History
    • Blast from the Past
    • The Coast Memoirs
    • Heritage Stops
    • Blog
  • Support
    • Gift Shop
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Careers
  • About
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • Name Change
    • Our Mandate
    • News & Reports
    • Staff & Board
    • Contact Us