Since May 8, 1792, European colonists have called the large volcano just off the coast of Puget Sound "Mount Rainier."

It was given that name by a British explorer, Captain George Vancouver – a gift to his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier. 

But prior to Vancouver’s arrival in what eventually became Washington state, the Indigenous peoples in and around the Salish Sea called it by many names.

A linguistic paper from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians traced those many names for the mountain – where they came from, and what they mean.

This conversation originally aired on May 5, 2025. 

Guests:

• Zalmai ʔəswəli Zahir, linguist and Lushootseed language teacher

Related Links: 

• Puyallup Tribal Language - Analysis of the Many Names of the Mountain
• Puyallup Tribal language consultant publishes first comprehensive analysis of the many Native names for Mount Rainier - ʔuhuyəxʷ ti dᶻixʷ pipa ʔə tiiɫ qa sdadaʔ ʔə tiiɫ skʷatač, ʔux̌alad ti ʔəswəli | Puyallup Tribe
• Puyallup Tribal Language - Culture

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