EPISODE 29February 02, 2023

Ogopogo / nx̌ax̌aitkʷ

It's one of the most famous and best-documented lake monsters in the world, and predates Nessie by over 80 years. It's mentioned in centuries-old journals and modern-day reports, and appears in grainy film footage, razor-sharp photos, and cheesy tourist t-shirts. But long before there was Ogopogo, there was nx̌ax̌aitkʷ, the Syilx name for the sacred being in the lake. In this episode, we'll hear the legends, explore the evidence, and discuss the cultural impact of one of Canada's most famous mysteries.

Sources

Allison, Susan. Edited by Margaret A. Ormsby. A Pioneer Gentlewoman in British Columbia. Vancouver, UBC Press, 1976.

 

Allison, S. L. “Ookook Miss-Achie Lake.” Vancouver: The Province. September 15, 1934, p 52.

 

Bieler, Zoe. “Meet Ogopogo.” The Montreal Star. August 2, 1952, p 54-55.

 

Buckland, F. M. Ogopogo’s Vigil. Kelowna, Regatta City Press, 1979.

 

Buckland, F. M. “The Story of Ogopogo.” Okanagan History: The 54th Report of the Okanagan Historical Society. Vernon, Wayside Press, 1990.

 

Clark, Cumberland; Strong, Mark. “Ogo Pogo.” Performance by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra. Victor, 1925. Archive.org. https://archive.org/details/78_ogo-pogo_paul-whiteman-and-his-orchestra-cumberland-clark-mark-strong_gbia0095545b/_78_ogo-pogo_paul-whiteman-and-his-orchestra-cumberland-clark-mark-strong_gbia0095545b_01_3.8_CT_flat.flac

 

Costello, Peter. In Search of Lake Monsters. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1974.

 

Gaal, Arlene. In Search of Ogopogo: Sacred Creature of the Okaganagan. Surrey, Hancock House, 2001.

 

Garish, Bruce. “Ogopogo (The Great Okanagan Mystery).” Ogopogo: Million Dollar Monster (The Great Okanagan Mystery). Daneda Records, 1982.

 

Kadane, Lisa. “Canada’s mysterious lake monster.” BBC Travel (BBC.com). March 10, 2020. Accessed December 2022. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200309-ogopogo-the-monster-lurking-in-okanagan-lake

 

Kilawna, Kelsie. “It’s time to tell the truth.” IndigiNews.com Okanagan, July 12, 2021. Accessed December 2022. https://indiginews.com/okanagan/the-okanagan-name-born-from-settler-folklore

 

Kilawna, Kelsie. “‘You don’t call him Ogopogo, you call him by his name, nx̌ax̌aitkʷ’” IndigiNews.com Okanagan, April 21, 2021. Accessed December 2022. https://indiginews.com/okanagan/dont-call-him-ogopogo-call-him-by-his-name-nxaxaitk-says-syilx-elder

 

Kirk, John. In the Domain of Lake Monsters. Toronto, Key Porter Books, 1998.

 

Lions, C. P. Okanagan Valley. Surrey, BC, Heritage House Publishing, 1985.

 

Logie, J. L. “Sea Serpent Keeps Pace with Automobile.” The Vernon News. Vernon, BC: July 22, 1926, p 1 and 4.

 

Luce, P. W. “The Return of Ogopogo.” The Vernon News. May 12, 1932, p 12.

 

MacArthur, Janet. “The Rhetoric of Absence.” White Space: Race, Privilege, and Cultural Economies of the Okanagan Valley. Vancouver, UBC Press, 2021.

 

Marlowe, Sam and Armstrong, Jeanette. “Syilx Water Perspectives: Valuing siwɬkʷ Knowledge.” Syilx.org, November, 2016.

 

McDougall, Glen. “He’s a bit earwig and a bit whale.” The Province. Vancouver: July 16, 1955.

 

McEwan, Maureen. “Myths and Legends of the Okanagan.” Okanagan Life Magazine. October 2010.

 

Meissner, Dirk. “City of Vernon transfers copyright to legendary Ogopogo to B.C. Indigenous nations.” CTV News / The Globe and Mail October 16, 2021. Accessed December 2022. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/city-of-vernon-transfers-copyright-to-legendary-ogopogo-to-b-c-indigenous-nations-1.5626031 / https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-city-of-vernon-transfers-copyright-to-legendary-ogopogo-to-bc/

 

Meurger, Michel. Monstres des Lacs du Québec. Montrèal, Stanké, 1982.

 

Michaels, Kathy and Morton, Sydney. “Ogopogo or unusually large bird? Kelowna couple spots something strange beneath the waves.” Global News. October 19, 2022. Accessed December 2022. https://globalnews.ca/news/9211632/ogopogo-or-unusually-large-bird-kelowna-couple-spots-something-strange-beneath-the-waves/

 

Moon, Mary. Ogopogo: The Okanagan Mystery. Vancouver, BC, J. J. Douglas, 1977.

 

Radford, Benjamin and Nickell, Joe. Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World’s Most Elusive Creatures. The University Press of Kentucky, 2006.

 

Shaw, Charles. “Is ‘Demon Fish’ of British Columbia Lake Survivor of Prehistoric Dinosaur Tribe?” The Winnipeg Tribune. October 3, 1925, p 36.

 

Shepherd, Bruce G. “A Case History: The Kokanee Stock of Okanagan Lake.” Penticton, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, 

 

“Woman recalls Ogopogo sighting.” Nanaimo Daily News. November 20, 1978, p 22. 

 

“Many have seen lake’s Ogopogo.” Calgary Herald. August 20, 1988, p 106.

 

“Buckland, Frank M.” MemoryBC.ca. Accessed December 2022. https://www.memorybc.ca/buckland-frank-m

 

“Okanagan Ferry to Be Armed Against Ogopogo Tribe.” Vancouver: The Daily Province. August 21, 1926, p 3.

 

“$1 Million Reward set for Ogopogo.” The Vancouver Sun. October 24, 1983, p 13.

 

“Ogopogo Dead? Never! Okanagan Indignant Over Newspaper Tale.” The Calgary Daily Herald. December 29, 1926, p 1.

 

“Old Ogopogo is turning swimmers cold.” Modesto, CA: The Modesto Bee. July 26, 1977, p 5.

 

Kenvyn, Ronald. “‘Ogopogo’ Now Official Name of the Famous Okanagan Sea Serpent.” Vancouver: The Daily Province. August 24, 1926, p 7.