Places in Canada with Native Aboriginal Indian Names
Its incredible how many places in Canada were actually named after Canadian Native Aboriginal Indian words or names. Everything from provinces, cities, towns, rivers, lakes and even the country itself have been named after Native Aboriginal Indian terms.
A partial list of some well known places in Canada and their Native Aboriginal Indian meanings are below.
Athabasca Lake: from the Cree word meaning where there are reeds
Canada: from Wendat Huron word meaning village or settlement
Chilliwack: from Halqemeylem word meaning going back up
Coquitlam: from Salish word meaning small red salmon or place of stinking fish
Etobicoke: from Ojibwa word meaning the place where the alders grow
Iqaluit: from Inuktituk word meaning fish
Kelowna: from Okanagan word meaning grizzly bear
Klondike River: from Han word meaning hammer used to fix fishing nets
Manitoulin Island: from Ojibwe word meaning spirit island
Ontario: from Huron word meaning beautiful lake
Ottawa: from Algonquin word meaning to buy
Penticton: from Okanagan word meaning place to stay forever
Quebec: from Algonquin word meaning narrow passage or strait
Saskatchewan: from Cree word meaning swift flowing river
Saskatoon: from Cree meaning berry fruit
Toronto: from Huron word meaning place of meeting
Winnipeg: from Cree word meaning dirty or murky water
Tuktoyaktuk: from Inuvialuktun word meaning resembling a caribou
Of course, there are many other examples. So next time you look at a name of a city, town, village, province, lake, mountain or region, it just might have come from a Native Aboriginal Indian word. A Native Aboriginal Indian tribe living in the region may have very well influenced the name of the place.
Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca , an online gallery specializing in Inuit art and Native American Indian art. including carvings and prints. Also numerous information articles and videos.
