Salt Spring Island History
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Salt Spring Island was first named Admiral Island (circa 1858) by Captain
Richards, after his superior officer Rear Admiral Baynes. The local residents
of the time insisted on calling it Salt Spring, because of the 14 or 15 natural
saline springs that occur on the island. Eventually, the mapmakers renamed it
officially. Ganges Harbour was once known as Admiralty Bay!
Salt Spring was originally a hunting territory for the Cowichan and
Saanich Indians. Part of the Coast Salish Indians, they spoke Halkomelem, and
Lekungenung. The first non-native settlers were former black slaves from the
United States, and arrived around 1857.