Kalugwis (also known as Karlukwees or Qalogwis) is the principal community of the Tlowitsis Nation (Ławit'sis) of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, located on the south shore of Turnour Island facing Beware Passage in the Johnstone Strait region of the South Coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated within Karlukwees Indian Reserve No. 1, which covers 10.8 hectares.
Name Origin and History
The Ławit'sis people moved to this location around 1850 from Klaoitsis Island. Indian Reserve No. 1 was allocated in 1886. By 1914, the settlement contained 21 houses. The name has been recorded under several spellings, including Karlukwees (the former official name prior to 1985) and Qalogwis.
Cultural Significance
Kalugwis holds an important place in Kwakwaka'wakw oral tradition. It features prominently in stories concerning the origins of the Winter Ceremonies (a central aspect of Kwakwaka'wakw spiritual and cultural life) as well as narratives explaining the origins of tides at the location.
Geography
The community is located at approximately 50°34′45″N 126°29′54″W, on Turnour Island in the Broughton Archipelago region, within the traditional territory of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples.
