The First Nations that were the original residents of the Bow Valley and southern Alberta have proposed significant name changes to locations and geographical features that reflect these were their traditional lands.
The First Nations that were the original residents of the Bow Valley and southern Alberta have proposed significant name changes to locations and geographical features that reflect these were their traditional lands.
The Stoney Nakoda First Nations – Bearspaw, Wesley and Chiniki bands – submitted an official application to the Alberta Geographical Names Program in October.
The application supports the First Nations land claim in the Court of Queen's Bench for right and title of Stoney Nakoda traditional lands, according to a letter from legal counsel Douglas Rae.
“In order to lawfully recognize, preserve, and provide insight into the Stoney Nakoda culture and history on these lands, we are submitting that certain existing place names should be changed to reflect the traditional names given by the Stoney Nakoda people,” wrote Rae in his letter to the geographical program.
“By adopting the Stoney Nakoda traditional names, Alberta would subsequently acknowledge the Nation's immemorial and prevailing presence in these places. Additionally, Alberta would also acknowledge the traditional importance and usefulness of the places to the Stoney Nakoda.”
As part of the application for name changes, the Stoney Nakoda have submitted a research report from 1987 on traditional place names and origins compiled by the Chiniki Research Team and Stoney Elders. The research covers the traditional territory for the Stoney Nakoda for the area south of the Bow River, east of the continental divide outside Banff National Park, west of the eastern Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve boundary and north of the Highwood River.
The proposal includes changing the name of the town of Canmore to Chuwapchipchiyan Kude Bi, the Bow River to Ijathibe Wapta or Mini thni Wapta, Spray Lakes to Horgatabi Mne or Mne thto, the Kananaskis River to Ozade Imne Wapta or Ozade or Nikteichichiyabi Mini.
Some locations proposed have more than one traditional name, like both rivers, and it would be up to chiefs of the councils of the First Nations to decide on the preferred name if it were to be changed.
In total, there are more than 160 name changes proposed in the application.
