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List of place names in Canada of Indigenous origin facts for kids

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Canada is a huge country with many amazing places! Did you know that a lot of these places have names that come from the languages of Canada's Indigenous Peoples? These include the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. This article will explore some of these names and what they mean. You'll learn how Indigenous words describe the land, animals, or important events.

Canada's Name: A Village Story

The name Canada itself comes from an Indigenous word! It comes from the Saint-Lawrence Iroquoian language. This language was spoken by people living near what is now Quebec City in the 1500s.

The word meant "village" or "settlement." It could also mean "land." When explorer Jacques Cartier first heard it, he used "Canada" to talk about the village of Stadacona. Soon, he used it for the whole area and the Saint-Lawrence River.

Other Iroquoian languages have similar words for "town" or "village." For example, in Mohawk, it's kaná:ta.

Provinces and Territories with Indigenous Names

Many of Canada's provinces and territories have names that come from Indigenous languages. These include Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Nunavut.

  • Manitoba: This name might come from the Cree word manito-wapâw. It means "the strait of the spirit." Or it could be from the Assiniboine words mini and tobow. These mean "Lake of the Prairie," referring to Lake Manitoba.
  • Nunavut: This means "Our land" in Inuktitut.
  • Ontario: This name comes from the Huron word onitariio. It means "beautiful lake." Another idea is kanadario, meaning "sparkling" or "beautiful" water.
  • Quebec: This name comes from the Míkmaq word kepék. It means "strait" or "narrows."
  • Saskatchewan: This name comes from the Cree name for the Saskatchewan River. That name is kisiskāciwani-sīpiy, which means "swift flowing river."
  • Yukon: This name comes from an Athabaskan language. For example, in Koyukon, it's yookkene.

Place Names by Province and Territory

Alberta

Alberta has many places named after Indigenous words or people.

  • Amisk: This means "Beaver" in Cree.
  • Athabasca: This means "Where there are reeds" in Cree. You can find this name in places like the Athabasca River and Lake Athabasca.
  • Battle River: This is a translation of a Cree place name. Many fights happened here between the Cree, Blackfoot, and Nakoda peoples.
  • Beaver Hills: This name is a translation from Cree, Blackfoot, and Nakoda languages. It refers to a place where beavers were common.
  • Bow River: This is an English translation of the Blackfoot name for the river. It means "river where bow reeds grow." These reeds were good for making bows to shoot arrows.
  • Calgary Roads: Some roads in Calgary are named after Indigenous Nations. These include Stoney, Blackfoot, Métis, Shaganappi, Sarcee, and Peigan Trails.
  • Cooking Lake: This name is a translation of its Cree place name, which means "a cooking place."
  • Crowfoot Crossing: Named after Crowfoot, a famous chief of the Siksika First Nation. He was important in signing Treaty 7.
  • Deerfoot Trail: Named after Deerfoot-Bad Meat, a Blackfoot man known around Calgary.
  • Edmonton Wards: Since 2020, many Edmonton election districts have Indigenous names.
    • Nakoda Isga: From the Sioux word for "the people."
    • O-day’min: From Anishinaabe, meaning "strawberry" or "heart berry."
    • Anirniq: From Inuktun, meaning "breath of life." This name honors Inuit people who came to Edmonton for medical treatment.
    • tastawiyiniwak: From Cree, meaning "the in-between people." This refers to the two-spirit and LGBTQ+ communities.
    • Dene: From the Dene language, meaning "the people."
    • Métis: From Michif, referring to the Métis people who farmed in the area.
    • sipiwiyiniwak: From Enoch Cree, meaning "river Cree."
    • papastew: From Papaschase Cree, meaning "woodpecker." It honors Chief Papaschase.
    • pihêsiwin: From Cree, meaning "land of the thunderbirds."
    • Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi: From Blackfoot, meaning "northward migration of the bison."
    • Karhiio: From Mohawk, meaning "tall beautiful forest." It honors Michel Karhiio, a chief.
    • Sspomitapi: From Blackfoot, meaning "star person." This refers to a sacred meteorite.
  • Kananaskis: The origin of this name is not fully clear, but it is believed to be from an Indigenous language.
  • Kapasiwin: This is Cree for 'campsite'.
  • Kaskitayo: An Edmonton community name. It comes from a Cree word meaning 'blackmud creek'.
  • Kikino Trail: This Edmonton trail name comes from the Cree word for “our home.”
  • Kimiwan: This is a Cree word for "rainy."
  • Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Provincial Park: This name is both Cree and Dene, meaning “our land.”
  • Lake Minnewanka: This means "Water of the Spirits" in Sioux (Nakoda/Stoney language).
  • Ma-Me-O Beach: This name comes from a Cree word meaning "pigeon."
  • Maskêkosihk Trail: This means "Road of the people of the land of medicine" in Cree.
  • Maskepetoon Park: Named after Chief Maskepetoon, who was known as the "Gandhi of the Plains."
  • Maskwacis: This name means 'bear hills' in Cree.
  • Medicine Hat: This name is a translation of the Blackfoot word saamis. It means "headdress of a medicine man."
  • Meeting Creek: This is an English translation of the Cree name that refers to a frequent meeting place for the Cree and Blackfoot.
  • Metiskow: This is Cree for 'many trees'.
  • Mewassin: This is Cree for 'good, beautiful'.
  • Ministik: This means "island" in Cree.
  • Nikanassin Range: This means "First range" in Cree.
  • Notikewin: This name comes from the Cree word for "battle."
  • Okotoks: This means "Big Rock" in Blackfoot.
  • Oldman River: The Piikani Nation named this river after their sacred ground at its source. It was called the "Old Man's Playing Ground," sacred to Napi, the Great Creator.
  • Peace Hills: A peace treaty between the Cree and Blackfoot was made here in 1867.
  • Peace River: This name comes from a Dane-zaa language river name. It refers to a peace agreement made in the late 1700s.
  • Pekisko: From a Blackfoot place name meaning "rough ridge" or "rolling hills."
  • Pembina River: This name is a changed version of the Cree name neepinmenaw, meaning "summer berry."
  • Ponoka: This name is an attempt to use its Blackfoot name ponokáwa, which means "Elk."
  • Poundmaker Trail: Named after Cree chief Poundmaker.
  • Saskatchewan River: This name comes from the Cree name kisiskāciwani-sīpiy, meaning "swift flowing river."
  • Seven Persons: This is a translation of the Blackfoot name kitsikitapi-itsinitupi, meaning "seven persons were killed."
  • Shaganappi Trail: Shaganappi are rawhide strips. They were used to repair many things, like the "duct tape" of their time.
  • Skoki Mountain: This is a Stoney Nakoda word for "swamp."
  • Slave Lake: The word "Slave" was a misunderstanding of a Cree word for "foreigner." It described the Athabaskan people living there.
  • Smoky Lake: This town's name comes from the Cree name for a nearby lake. It was called Smoking Lake because of many campfires, smouldering coal, or a lot of mist.
  • Sounding Lake: This name is based on a Native legend about a Great Eagle whose wings made a sound like thunder.
  • Spirit River: This is a translation of the Cree name chipi-sipi, meaning "spirit river."
  • Stony Plain: This is a translation of the Cree name asinipwat-muskatayo, meaning "Stony (Native) plain."
  • Vermilion River (Alberta): This is a translation of the Cree name weeyaman-sipi, meaning "red paint river."
  • Wabamun: This Cree word means "mirror" or "looking glass." It is used for the lake and town west of Edmonton.
  • Wabasca: From the Cree language word wapuskau, meaning "grassy narrows."
  • Wapiti River: From the Cree word waapiti, meaning "elk" (literally "white rump").
  • Waputik Range: Waputik means "white goat" in Stoney.
  • Waskatenau: This Cree term means "opening in the banks." It refers to a cleft in a nearby ridge.
  • Wetaskiwin: This means "Place of peace" or "hill of peace" in Cree.
  • Yoho Park: The Cree word "yoho" is used like the English word "wow."

British Columbia

British Columbia also has many places with Indigenous names.

Manitoba

  • Amiku: From the Ojibwe word "Amiik," meaning "beaver."
  • Grand Rapids: This is a translation of the Cree word misepawistik, meaning "rushing rapids."
  • The Pas: This name comes from the Pasquia River, named for the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
  • Wapusk National Park: From wâpask, meaning "polar bear" in Cree language.
  • Winnipeg: This means "muddy water" from the word win-nipi in Cree.

New Brunswick

  • Apohaqui: From the Maliseet language, meaning "The joining of two waters."
  • Bouctouche: A changed version of the Mi'kmaq word Chebooktoosk, meaning "Great Little Harbour."
  • Caraquet: From the Mi'kmaq language, meaning "junction (or meeting) of two rivers."
  • Kouchibouguac National Park: Kouchibouguac means "river of the long tides" in Mi'kmaq.
  • Magaguadavic Lake: A Mi'kmaq word meaning "lake of eels."
  • Mactaquac: A Maliseet word meaning "big branch."
  • Meductic: From the Maliseet word "Medoctic," meaning "the end."
  • Miramichi: This name might come from the Montagnais word for "country of the Micmac."
  • Nackawic: From the Maliseet word meaning "straight" or "not in the direction it seems to be."
  • Nashwaak River: A changed version of the Maliseet word for "slow current."
  • Oromocto: Possibly from the Maliseet word welamooktook, which means "good river."
  • Petitcodiac: From a Mi'kmaq word meaning "bends like a bow."
  • Quispamsis: From the Maliseet language, meaning "little lake in the woods."
  • Woolastook: A Maliseet word meaning 'good and bountiful river,' referring to the Saint John River.

Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Aguathuna: Possibly from the Beothuk word for "grindstone."
  • Kaipokok Bay: From Inuktitut, meaning "frothy water."
  • Ktaqmkuk: This means "Land over the water" in Mi'kmaq language, referring to Newfoundland.
  • Makkovik: Vik is the Inuktitut word for "place." Makko- might mean "two," referring to two bays.
  • Natuashish: From Innu-aimun, meaning "a small lake."
  • Nunatsiavut: From Inuktitut, meaning "our beautiful land."
  • Shannoc Brook: Believed to be the Beothuk name for the Mi'kmaq.
  • Sheshatshiu: From Innu-aimun, meaning "a narrow place in the river."
  • Torngat Mountains: From the Inuktitut name turngait, meaning "spirits." Inuit legends say the spirit and physical worlds meet here.
  • Wabana: From the Abenaki wabunaki, meaning "east land" or "dawn."
  • Wabush: From Innu-aimun uapush, meaning "Arctic hare."

Nova Scotia

  • Antigonish: From the Mi'kmaq word nalegitkoonechk, meaning "where branches are torn off."
  • Chebucto: The original name of Halifax. From the Mi'kmaq word "Jipugtug," meaning "the biggest harbour."
  • Cobequid: From the Mi'kmaq word "Wakobetgitk," meaning "end of the rushing or flowing water."
  • Ecum Secum: From the Mi'kmaq language, meaning "a red house."
  • Eskasoni: From the Mi'kmaq word We'kwistoqnik, meaning "Where the fir trees are plentiful."
  • Kejimkujik National Park: The park's official translation means "tired muscles."
  • Musquodoboit Harbour: This name means foaming to the sea. It's an English version of the Mi’kmaq word Moosekudoboogwek.
  • Pictou: From the Mi'kmaq word "Piktook," meaning "an explosion of gas."
  • Pugwash: From the Mi'kmaq word "pagwe’ak," meaning "deep water."
  • Shubenacadie: From the Mi'kmaq word meaning "abounding in ground nuts" or "place where the red potato grows."
  • Stewiacke: From the Mi'kmaq language, meaning "flowing out in small streams."
  • Tatamagouche: From the Mi'kmaq word takumegooch, meaning "meeting of the waters."
  • Whycocomagh: From a Mi'kmaq word meaning "Head of the Waters."

Northwest Territories

Nunavut

  • Auyuittuq National Park: Auyuittuq means "the land that never melts."
  • Iqaluit: This means "many fish" in Inuktitut.
  • Pangnirtung: From Pangniqtuuq, meaning "the place of many bull caribou."
  • Quttinirpaaq National Park: Qutsiniqpaaq means "top of the world" in Inuktitut.
  • Sirmilik National Park: Sirmilik means "the place of glaciers" in Inuktitut.
  • Ukkusiksalik National Park: Ukkusiksalik means "place of have cooking pots" in Inuktitut.

Ontario

  • Adjala-Tosorontio: Tosorontio means "beautiful mountain" in Huron. Adjala was the name of Chief Tecumseh's wife.
  • Algonquin Provincial Park: Named after the Algonquin people.
  • Atikokan: This means "caribou bones" in Ojibwe.
  • Attawapiskat: This means "People of the parting of the rocks" in Swampy Cree.
  • Brantford: Named after Joseph Brant, a Mohawk leader.
  • Cayuga: Named for the Cayuga people.
  • Couchiching: From the Ojibwe gojijiing, meaning "inlet."
  • Deseronto: Named for Captain John Deseronto, a Mohawk leader in the British Military.
  • Etobicoke: This means "The place where the alders grow" in the Ojibwe language.
  • Fort Erie: From Iroquoian, erige, meaning "cat."
  • Gananoque: Thought to mean "place of health," "meeting place," or "water running over rocks."
  • Iroquois Falls: Named for the Iroquois people.
  • Kakabeka Falls: From the Ojibwe word gakaabikaa, meaning "waterfall over a cliff."
  • Kaministiquia River: From gaa-ministigweyaa, an Ojibwe word meaning "(river) with islands."
  • Kanata: A Mohawk word meaning "village" or "settlement."
  • Kapuskasing: Of Cree origin, possibly meaning "bend in river."
  • Kawartha Lakes: From ka-wa-tha, meaning "land of reflections" in the Anishinaabe language. Later changed to mean "bright waters and happy lands."
  • Keewatin: From Algonquian for "north wind."
  • Madawaska: Named after an Algonquian group called Matouweskarini, meaning "people of the shallows."
  • Manitoulin Island: Manitoulin is the English version of the Old Odawa name Manidoowaaling, meaning "cave of the spirit."
  • Manitouwadge: From manidoowaazh in Ojibwe, meaning "cave of the spirit."
  • Manotick: From Algonquin for "island."
  • Mattawa: This means "Meeting of the waters" in Ojibwe.
  • Michipicoten: This means "Big bluffs" in Ojibwe.
  • Missinaibi Provincial Park: Cree for "pictured waters." This refers to pictographs on rock faces.
  • Mississauga: Named for the native tribe of the Mississaugas.
  • Moosonee: From the Cree word moosoneek, meaning "at the Moose (River)."
  • Muskoka: Named for a First Nations chief from the 1850s, Chief Yellowhead or Mesqua Ukie.
  • Nassagaweya: From the Mississauga word nazhesahgewayyong, meaning "river with two outlets."
  • Niagara: Of Iroquois origin, but its exact meaning is uncertain.
  • Nipigon: May mean "at continuous water" or "at waters that extend [over the horizon]" in Ojibwe.
  • Nipissing: From the Anishinaabe term nibiishing, meaning "at (some) water."
  • Nottawasaga River: From Algonquin words for "Iroquois" and "river outlet."
  • Opeongo: From the Algonquin word opeauwingauk, meaning “sandy narrows.”
  • Oshawa: From the Ojibwe term aazhaway, meaning "crossing to the other side of a river or lake."
  • Otonabee: From the Ojibwe term "Odoonabii-ziibi" (Tullibee River). It can also mean "the river that beats like a heart."
  • Ottawa: From the word adaawe in the Anishinaabe language, meaning "To buy." It became the name of the Odawa people.
  • Penetanguishene: Believed to mean "land of the white rolling sands" in Wyandot or Abenaki.
  • Petawawa: From Algonquin, meaning "where one hears the noise of the water."
  • Pukaskwa National Park: The meaning is not fully clear, but it is from an Indigenous language.
  • Saugeen: From the Ojibwa language, Zaagiing, meaning "outlet."
  • Scugog: From the Mississauga word sigaog, meaning "waves leap over a canoe."
  • Shuniah: Named after the Ojibwa word "zhooniyaa" for "money" or "silver."
  • Temagami: From the Anishinaabe word dimiigami, meaning "deep water(s)."
  • Timiskaming: From the Algonquin language Temikami, meaning "deep waters."
  • Toronto: From an Iroquoian language, possibly from the Mohawk word "tkaronto," meaning "trees standing in the water."
  • Tyendinaga: Named after Mohawk leader Joseph Brant's traditional Mohawk name, Thayendanegea.
  • Wahnapitae: From the Anishinaabe waanabide, meaning "be shaped like a hollow tooth."
  • Waupoos: This means "rabbit" in Ojibway.
  • Wasaga Beach: Named after "Nottawasaga," as above.
  • Wawa: The meaning is not fully clear, but it is from an Indigenous language.
  • Wikwemikong: From the Anishinaabe Wiikwemkoong, meaning "Bay of Beavers."
  • Wyoming: From the Munsee name xwé:wamənk, meaning "at the big river flat."

Quebec

  • Akpatok Island: Akpaqtuq means "come down or lowers itself" in Inuktitut.
  • Amqui: The meaning is not fully clear, but it is from an Indigenous language.
  • Causapscal: The meaning is not fully clear, but it is from an Indigenous language.
  • Chibougamau: The meaning is not fully clear, but it is from an Indigenous language.
  • Chicoutimi: This means "End of the deep water" in Innu or Cree.
  • Coaticook: From the Abenaki language, meaning "river near the pines."
  • Donnacona: Named after Chief Donnacona, a 16th-century Iroquoian Chief.
  • Gaspé: This means "land's end" in Mi'kmaq.
  • Inukjuak: Inugjuaq means "The Giant/Big Man" in Inuktitut.
  • Kamouraska County: From the Abenaki language, meaning "birch bark here."
  • Kangiqsualujjuaq: Kangiqsualujjuaq means "the very large bay" in Inuktitut.
  • Kawawachikamach: This is a Naskapi Nation name.
  • Lac Kénogami: Kenogami means "long water" in Montagnais.
  • Rivière Koksoak: Quqsuaq means "Yellowish" in Inuktitut.
  • Kuujjuaq: Kuujjuaq means "the great river" in Inuktitut.
  • Lac Manitou: From the Algonquian name Gitchi Manitou, which describes their Creator (the Great Spirit).
  • Magog: Derived from "Memphremagog."
  • Manicouagan River: This means "where there is bark."
  • Mégantic County: Abenaki for "lake trout place."
  • Lac Memphremagog: Meaning "beautiful waters" or "vast expanse of water" in Abenaki.
  • Missisquoi County: Missisquoi is an Abenaki tribal name.
  • Pontiac County: Named after the famous 18th-century Ottawa leader Pontiac.
  • Quebec City: The "narrowing of the river" refers to where the St. Lawrence River passes Quebec City.
  • Rimouski: The meaning is not fully clear, but it is from an Indigenous language.
  • Saguenay: The meaning is not fully clear, but it is from an Indigenous language.
  • Salluit: Salluit means "the thin ones" in Inuktitut.
  • Sayabec: The meaning is not fully clear, but it is from an Indigenous language.
  • Shawinigan: This means "Portage at the crest" in Algonquian.
  • Tadoussac: The meaning is not fully clear, but it is from an Indigenous language.
  • Témiscouata County: Abenaki for "bottomless" or "extremely deep all around."
  • Torngat Mountains: Tuurngat means "Spirits or sometimes Evils" in Inuktitut.

Saskatchewan

  • Assiniboia: From the name of the Assiniboine First Nation people.
  • Cypress Hills: Early Métis hunters called these hills les montagnes des Cyprès. This was because of the many jack pine trees, which they called cyprès.
  • Kamsack: From a First Nation word meaning something vast and large.
  • Katepwa: Likely from the Cree word Kahtapwao, meaning What is calling?.
  • Kinistino: It's been suggested this word means running water in Cree.
  • Lake Athabasca: From Woods Cree: aðapaskāw, meaning [where] there are plants one after another.
  • Manitou Beach: When the world was created, the Great Spirit, Aasha Monetoo, gave the land to the indigenous peoples.
  • Mistusinne: From the Plains Cree word mistasiniy, meaning big stone. This stone looked like a sleeping bison.
  • Moosomin: From the Cree word for the mooseberry or high bush cranberry.
  • Nipawin: From the Cree word meaning a bed, or resting place. This referred to a low area along the river.
  • Nokomis: Named for Hiawatha's grandmother in a famous poem.
  • Ogema: Ogema is an Anishinaabemowin word meaning Chief.
  • Piapot: Named for Chief Piapot, meaning Hole in the Sioux or One Who Knows the Secrets of the Sioux.
  • Saskatoon: From the Cree word misāskwatōmin, meaning Saskatoon berry. This fruit is native to the area.
  • Sintaluta: The name comes from a Lakota word meaning tail of the red fox.
  • Wadena: Named after Chief Wadena, an Ojibwe Chief.
  • Wakaw: A Cree word meaning crooked, referring to nearby Wakaw Lake.
  • Wapella: Meaning either water underground or gently falling snow in Dakota.
  • Waskesiu: From the Cree word meaning red deer or elk.
  • Wawota: From the Dakota words wa ota, meaning much snow.

Yukon

See also

Resources

  • The composition of Indian geographical names, illustrated from the Algonkin languages, Trumbull, J. Hammond (James Hammond), 1821–1897. [Hartford, Conn.? : s.n., 187–?]
  • http://www.arcticplacenames.ca
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List of place names in Canada of Indigenous origin Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.