Whatcom is anglicized from QwotQwem, the Xwlemiʼchosen word for noisy waters.
The landmark, presently known as Whatcom Falls, holds layered historical and cultural meanings. It is originally referred to as QwotQwem (IPA: x̣ʷátkʷəm) by the Lhaq’temish people, a name that loosely translates to “Noisy Waters” in the Xwlemiʼchosen (IPA: xʷləmiʔčósən) language.
This location is historically significant as it served as a linchpin in the economic plans of early settlers, notably capitalist Henry Roeder and Russell V. Peabody (Jentges, 2015). According to Jentges (2015), “Henry Roeder and Russell V. Peabody were speaking to Lummi chief Chow’it’sut about a water source they called ‘what-coom’” (p. 7). Once located and claimed, they harnessed the kinetic energy generated by the falls to power a lumber mill. This not only commodified the forest but also had lasting repercussions on both the social and ecological landscapes of the region.
The cultural assimilation of the Lhaq’temish people has led to a process of linguistic anglicization aimed at simplifying their Indigenous language for settler convenience. This process has resulted in various spellings and translations of QwotQwem, such as Xwot’qom, QwotQwen, What-coom, and Xwtqwem. Discrepancies exist due to the diverse approaches explorers, ethnographers, and anthropologists employ in documenting Indigenous languages. The most standardized phonetic representation, according to the International Phonetic Alphabet, remains x̣ʷátkʷəm.
It’s worth noting that multiple sources offer slightly different translations of the original term. While “Noisy Waters” is commonly cited, some references also translate it as “Rumbling Waters,” or combine it as “Noisy Rumbling Waters.”
The multifaceted history and the various interpretations of the site encapsulate the complexities of cultural assimilation, economic transformation, and linguistic evolution.
Jentges, C. W. (2015). Images of America: Bellingham. Arcadia Publishing.