Kuper Island is part of the Gulf Islands chain, off southeastern Vancouver Island. It is separated from Thetis Island to the north by a narrow, artificial canal called The Cut. Kuper Island draws its
name from Captain Kuper, who was, among other Naval designations, commander of the HMS Thetis—a ship upon which he was sent to survey parts of Haida Gwaii for gold.1
The Penelakut First Nation had and have villages on Kuper Island, along with several
locations in the surrounding region. According to the Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group website,
the term Penelakut refers to all Hul'qumi'num people, who have historically lived
on Kuper Island from time to time.2
1. Andrew Scott, The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names (Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing, 2009), 105.