Ehagay Nakoda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ehagay Nakoda |
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Ehagay Nakoda from the Bow River, 18 June 2011
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,685 m (8,809 ft) |
| Prominence | 396 m (1,299 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Ehagay Nakoda
Location in Alberta
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| Parent range | Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82O/03 |
Ehagay Nakoda is a multipeaked massif located immediately south of the town of Canmore just east of the Spray Lakes road in Alberta's Canadian Rockies. The mountain sports two subsidiary peaks with commemorative names, Mount Lawrence Grassi (which is the tallest) and Ha Ling Peak on the northwestern end. It also sports two other named peaks: Ship's Prow on the southeastern side, and Miner's Peak. The mountain is separated from Mount Rundle by Whiteman's Gap, and is separated to the South from The Three Sisters by Three Sisters Pass.
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Name Change
Ehagay Nakoda was formerly named Mount Lawrence Grassi, but the name was changed along with renaming Ha Ling Peak. In 1998, the name of the massif was changed to Ehagay Nakoda, meaning "The Last Nakoda" ("The last human being"), which is derived from a Stoney Nakoda origin story about the mountain's creation. This traditional story told of a Nakoda who was transformed into a mountain by Iktomni (the Trickster, or the Old Man) so that they would remain on this Earth long after human beings cease to inhabit it. The story was submitted by a local Stoney Nakoda Edler, Peter Lazarus Wesley, for the renaming of Chinaman's Peak, but the decision was made to rename the entire massif while also changing the name of Chinaman's Peak to Ha Ling Peak. To respect the history of Lawrence Grassi and the former name of the mountain, the tallest peak was named Mount Lawrence Grassi.
Named Peaks
Mount Lawrence Grassi
The peak is named for Lawrence Grassi (1890–1980), an Italian miner who emigrated to Canada in 1912. After working with the Canadian Pacific Railway for several years he worked in the Canmore coal mines, Grassi also became a well-respected climbing guide as well as building many trails in the area, including one to the Grassi Lakes which also bear his name.
Ha Ling Peak
Ha Ling Peak was previously officially named Chinaman's Peak in 1980, but the name was removed in 1997, underwent a name change in 1998. The peak is named in honour of Ha Ling, who was a Chinese cook working for a mining camp and the first person known to have summited the peak. He bet some coworkers $50 that he could climb the mountain and return in less than ten hours. When he returned in five and a half hours, people doubted him, so he led people up the mountain to where he had planted a small flag, and left behind an even larger flag that could be seen from the nearby town of town of Canmore, Alberta. Ha Ling Peak is the northmost peak of Ehagay Nakoda.
Ship's Prow
Ship's Prow is the South peak of Ehagay Nakoda. It is named for its prominent, ship's prow-like appearance on the end of Ehagay Nakoda as seen from the nearby town of Canmore, Alberta.
Miner's Peak
Miner's Peak is the first peak Southeast of Ha Ling Peak. Miner's Peak was named in honour of the mining community that once worked below the mountain mining coal.
The Story of Ehagay Nakoda: The Last Nakoda
The immortal Iktomni (the Trickester or the Old Man) possesses special powers. He was the first Nakoda (human) to live on the Earth and, in fact, has assisted the Creator with its origin. After the formation of the earth, additional Nakoda (humans) were created to live on this planet. Since time immemorial, their traditional homelands included the eastern slopes of what are now known as the Canadian Rockies.
At one point in time, word circulated that Iktomni was granting wishes to the Nakoda. Two Nakoda visited Iktomni and respectfully asked him to give them one wish each. Iktomni replied, "I will grant you any wish you desire, but you must understand that once your wish is fulfilled, you cannot change it." Both agreed.
The first Nakoda made a wish to be very beautiful. Iktomni then commanded, "Do you see that pond of water? Tun to it and jump in it." The Nakoda jumped into the pond and immediately was transformed into a beautiful swan.
Astonished, the second Nakoda then made a wish, saying, "My wish is nothing like that. I wish to remain on this Earth for as long as it exists." Iktomni responded, "You shall remain on this earth long after all human beings cease to inhabit it. You will be EHAGAY NAKODA: The Last Nakoda.
Iktomni then commanded the Nakoda to sit on the ground. The Nakoda did as instructed and immediately was transformed into a colossal rock configuration: a mountain. That particular mountain — which was originally the Nakoda — still dominates the landscape to this day. "It shall remain on this earth long after all human beings cease to inhabit it."
That mountain is "Ehagay Nakoda: The Last Nakoda."
As told by Stoney Nakoda Elder Peter Lazarus Wesley.
