What is "cowichan"

Cowichan may refer either to:

• the Cowichan peoples, the Quamichan
• the Cowichan Tribes First Nation located in and around Duncan, British Columbia
• the Cowichan Valley, a region on Vancouver Island centred on Duncan, British Columbia, which contains:
  • Cowichan Valley Regional District, a supra-municipal regional government
  • Cowichan Lake, a 30 km long body of water
  • the town of Lake Cowichan
  • Cowichan River
  • Cowichan Bay, British Columbia, a bay and community.
• the Cowichan sweater, a heavy-wool knit animal and geometric patterns made by the women of the Cowichan people.

• Cowichan - 1871-1920
• Cowichan-Alberni, 1894 only
• Cowichan-Newcastle 1920 - 1963
• Cowichan-Malahat 1966-1986
• Cowichan-Ladysmith 1991–2005
• Nanaimo-North Cowichan 2009–present

• Cowichan—Malahat—The Islands 1976 - 1987
• Nanaimo—Cowichan 1987–present
• Nanaimo—Cowichan—The Islands 1962 - 1976

• Cowichan Herald Extraordinary, one of the officers of arms at the Canadian Heraldic Authority

Cowichan was one of the first twelve electoral districts created when British Columbia became a Canadian province in 1871. It was located on southern Vancouver Island. It was a one-member riding only (unlike other early ridings). Its last appearance on the husting was in 1920. It was then superseded by Cowichan-Newcastle, which appeared in provincial elections from 1924 to 1963, after which a revised riding is named Cowichan-Malahat, which is extant today.