Great idea! While we're at it we could scrap all the names everybody's used to and find out what the aboriginals think were the names most likely used hundreds of years ago. What a great way to reach out to people.
Meanwhile:
How well some of the native names are being received throughout the Native communities of the North remains to be seen. In arranging for air travel from Kuujjuaq to other communities, it has been said that some native travellers will use the previous name (George River) to ensure that they get to Kangiqsualujjuaq, if that's where they're going, and not to Kangiqsujuaq.
But hey, no problem. We can balance everyhing out by reaching out to the Anglo community too. Maybe some of the following names can be changed to reach out to the European peoples who have something to do with our heritage too:
[UL] [LI]Chilliwack (British Columbia) - is the name of the local tribe, ch.ihl-KWAY-uhk. This word is generally interpreted to mean "going back up." It refers to the people's return home after visiting the mouth of the Fraser River. [LI]Coquitlam (British Columbia) -derived from the Salish tribal name Kawayquitlam, this word can be translated as "small red salmon." The name refers to the sockeye salmon common to the area. [LI]Kamloops (British Columbia) - is likely from the Shushwap word kahm-o-loops, which is usually translated as "the meeting of waters." The name refers to the junction of the North and South Thompson rivers at Kamloops. [LI]Penticton (British Columbia) - the name comes from an Okanagan word meaning "the always place," in the sense of a permanent dwelling place. [LI]Fort Chipewyan (Alberta) - the town was named for the Chipewyan people, and means "pointed skins," a Cree reference to the way the Chipewyans prepared beaver pelts. [LI]Medicine Hat (Alberta) - is a translation of the Blackfoot word, saamis, meaning "headdress of a medicine man." According to one explanation, the word describes a fight between the Cree and Blackfoot when a Cree medicine man lost his plumed hat in the river. [LI]Wetaskiwin (Alberta) - is an adaptation of the Cree word wi-ta-ski-oo cha-ka-tin-ow, which can be translated as "place of peace" or "hill of peace." [LI]Qu'Appelle (Saskatchewan) - the town name is from the river, known to the Cree as kab-tep-was. This means "the river that calls." The legend associated with the name tells of a Cree man paddling to his wedding, when he heard his name called out. He recognized the voice of his bride, who was still many days travel away. He answered, "Who calls?" and a spirit mimicked him: "Who calls?" He then hurried home to find that his bride had died, uttering his name with her last breath. French settlers in Saskatchewan perpetuated the legend by naming the river Qu'Appelle, meaning "who calls?" [LI]Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) - the name comes from an edible red berry native to the area, which the Cree called mis-sask-guah-too-min. [LI]Grand Rapids (Manitoba) - is a translation of the Cree word misepawistik, or "rushing rapids." [LI]The Pas (Manitoba) - originated with the Cree opa, meaning "a narrow place" or opaskweow, "narrows between high banks." [LI]Winnipeg (Manitoba) - the name, from the Cree win-nipi, can be freely translated as "dirty water" or "murky water," to describe the lake and river. [LI]Etobicoke (Ontario) -comes from the Ojibway word wah-do-be-kaung, which means "the place where the alders grow." [LI]Kapuskasing (Ontario) - is a Cree word meaning "the place where the river bends." [LI]Mississauga (Ontario) - is named after the Mississauga people who live in the area, and describes the mouth of a river. Michi or missi means "many," and saki, "outlet" a river having several outlets. [LI]Oshawa (Ontario) - is a Seneca word that means "crossing of a stream" or "carrying place," describing an old portage in the area. [LI]Ottawa (Ontario) - the word comes from the Algonquin term adawe, "to trade." This was the name given to the people who controlled the trade of the river. [!-- [li]Toronto (Ontario) - is generally believed to be a Huron word which means "a place of meeting." A large number of Aboriginal peoples landed at this spot on their way to trade or hunt in Huron country.[/li] --] [LI]Chibougamau (Quebec) - is a Cree word that means "where the water is shut in," describing a narrow outlet of the lake. [LI]Chicoutimi (Quebec) - this name of Montagnais origin comes from the word shkoutimeou, meaning "the end of the deep water." [LI]Gaspé (Quebec) - is a name believed to come from the Mi'kmaq word for "end" or "extremity," referring to the northern limits of their territory. [LI]Listiguj (Quebec) - comes from the Mi'kmaq lustagooch, likely meaning "river with five branches." [LI]Rimouski (Quebec) - is a word of Mi'kmaq or Maliseet origin, which has been translated as "land of moose" or "retreat of dogs," perhaps referring to its fine hunting grounds. [LI]Oromocto (New Brunswick) - is derived from the Maliseet word welamooktook, meaning "good river." [LI]Baddeck (Nova Scotia) - is a possible version of the Mi'kmaq petekook, meaning "the place that lies on the backward turn." The word refers to Mi'kmaq travel on the river from Bras d'Or Lake. [LI]Musquodobit (Nova Scotia) - comes from the Mi'kmaq mooskudoboogwek, which can be translated as "rolling out in foam" or "suddenly widening out after a narrow entrance at its mouth." [LI]Shubenacadie (Nova Scotia) - is a name of Mi'kmaq origin that comes from the word segubunakadik, meaning "the place where groundnuts (Indian potatoes) grow." [LI]Tuktoyaktuk (Northwest Territories) - is an Inuit name that can be translated tuktu, "caribou," yaktuk, "looks like," or "reindeer that looks like caribou." [LI]Pangnirtung (Northwest Territories) - is an adaptation of the Inuktitut word said to mean "place of the bull caribou." [LI]Inuvik (Northwest Territories) - comes from the Inuktitut word meaning "the place of man." [/LI][/UL] Surely some of these place names can be changed as a gesture of appreciation to our European forebears. Big rally downtown next week. Take Upholstery Avenue to the corner of Third and Furniture.
