Common name | Kwa'ak |
Language | Shuswap |
Type | Vernacular |
Official trade name | No |
Rank | 3 - (Other common name) |
Country | Canada |
Locality | Within Secwépemc territory |
Ref. | Compton, B., M. Thomas and J. Michel, 1994 |
Life stage | juveniles and adults |
Sex | females and males |
Core | |
1st modifier | |
2nd modifier | |
Remarks | Name associated with Secwépemc mythology meaning "with broken jaws". In the legend, "The War with the Sky People" (Ref. 10944), fishes were said to have descended from the upper world. Some of those who tried to throw themselves into a large lake were wounded because they missed and fell on rocks. That is why the mouth of the lake chub appears to be broken. |