Naitaka, The Lake Demon

The early First Nations inhabitants of the Okanagan Valley told stories about a creature living in the lake. They said it was long, maybe 35 to 65 feet long. It had dark skin. There were humps on its back.

Its head was shaped like the head of a sheep or a horse or a goat. Most importantly, it was a speedy swimmer. First Nations people called the lake monster Naitaka or N’ha-a-itk (pronounced Nuh-haw- aw-it-ck). This name meant Lake Monster, or Holy Serpent of the Water. They believed that Naitaka liked to eat people who got too close to the water’s edge or who were travelling on the lake.

To appease the creature, people paddling canoes across the lake would carry a pig or chicken with them. They would throw the small animal into the water as a sacrifice to Naitaka. The pig or chicken was supposed to keep Naitaka busy and give the people time to safely cross the lake. It was especially important to take a sacrificial animal when crossing the lake in stormy weather. In fact, some stories even say Naitaka whipped up dangerous waves with its tail. Ogopogo’s home territory has always been said to be Squally Point, on the opposite side of Okanagan Lake from Peachland, where the water can be particularly turbulent. Legend has it that one day Chief Timbasket and his family were travelling on Okanagan Lake near Squally Point when they disappeared. Timbasket did not believe in the lake monster, so he did not take any precautions such as throwing an animal in the lake to satisfy Naitaka. No traces of Timbasket and his family were ever found. However, there were reports that the canoe was found many years later high above the shore line.