Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the area, Mount Garibaldi was referred to by the Squamish people as Nch'kay, meaning Dirty Place or Grimy One in reference to the muddy water of the Cheekye River. The mountain was an important cultural landmark for the Squamish, with its surrounding area being used for hunting, foraging, and the collection of obsidian. In Squamish mythology, Nch'kay was the peak to which the people tied their canoes to avoid being swept away by the Great Flood.