Won Alexander Cumyow could also speak Chinook Jargon

[Leanne Riding]

Heres another interesting Chinese Canadian who could speak Chinook Jargon.
..

Last year while visiting the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum & Archive in Vancouver'
s Chinatown, I noticed a caption on a photograph which mentioned that Won 
Alexander Cumyow was a translator of Chinook Jargon in the legal profession.
  Mr. Cumyow was a significant figure in Chinese Canadian history and a very 
interesting fellow. Just now I did a net search on him and found a fonds description 
from the UBC Archives. Here is an excerpt:

"Won Cumyow, the first Chinese-Canadian born in Canada, was born on or about 
March 21st 1861 in Port Douglas, B.C., located at the north end of Harrison 
Lake. Cumyow’s parents had immigrated there from Canton and his father operated 
a business outfitting miners on their way to the Cariboo. In addition to Chinese 
and English, Cumyow also learned to speak Chinook, which would prove useful 
in his future career. The family later moved to New Westminster, where Cumyow 
was educated in law and appointed court interpreter in 1888. He eventually 
gained prominence as a merchant, community leader, and official Court Interpreter 
for the Vancouver City Police (1904-1936), and was involved with several groups,
  including the Chinese Empire Reform Association. He married in 1889 and had 
ten children, including four sons and six daughters. His son Gordon succeeded 
him as Court Interpreter."

This biographical sketch is part of a fonds description compiled by George 
Brandak and revised by Melanie Hardbattle, and includes descriptions of biographical 
information, correspondence, journals, documents, scrapbooks, photographs,
  and printed material.

(http://data.library.ubc.ca/spcol/servlet/EadXSLTServletV2?xml=fall02/Won_Alexander_Cumyow.
xml&xsl=eadfinal.xsl)

To respond to the CHINOOK list, click 'REPLY ALL'.  To respond privately to the sender of a message, click 'REPLY'.  Hayu masi!