The Alberta government has moved to officially change the names of several mountains in the Rockies following outcries from Indigenous activists.
Citing the usual ‘racism’ and ‘misogyny’ inherent in the names of these rock formations, the first of these mountains, previously known colloquially as “Squaw’s Tit” for its suggestive peak, will now be called Anû Kathâ Îpa (Bald Eagle Peak), which is the name given to it by the Stoney Nakoda people.
Although the name was never official and was only a locally used nickname, this was high priority or the recently minted Minister of Culture Ron Orr.
“This is an important step in reconcili-action,” Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations said in a statement. “We must recognize and celebrate Indigenous culture and the traditional names that reflect the true meaning and history of the land. We must understand the past and honour these sacred places, so [that] we can continue to teach future generations about their ancestors and the places that connect them.”
Chief Aaron Young of the Chiniki First Nations continued the sentiment, saying that the previous name is “A racist term [that] has been cast aside and [the] Stoney Nakoda people are grateful.”
Talks of renaming mountains throughout the province gained momentum and popular support last year, with several indigenous activists working with members of the Alberta government to rectify racial grievances apparently caused by the rock formations.
While these changes have been made primarily under the auspices of ‘racism’, comments from other board members and activists tell a very different story: they cannot handle the word “tit”.
“This Peak Project is critically important for a number of reasons,” Canmore lawyer Jude Daniels said in August 2020. “Let’s start with how the fact that we’ve allowed someone to weaponize a peak’s name against women and Indigenous women in particular. That Canmore peak is a lovely little peak and yet, it’s been tarnished with a misogynistic and racist informal name.”
“When I heard [the nickname],” Chiniki elder Una Wesley said, “it reminded me of residential school days. This is 2020 and women should be honored.”
The Alberta government says that the name changes are an important step in reconciliation and have already moved to change the name on maps, both digitally and physically. Indeed, the name has already been changed on Google and Wikipedia.
While Squaw’s Tit is the first mountain to be renamed, it certainly will not be the last. According to the Alberta government, they are actively working to rename another mountain in Banff National Park with permission from the Nakoda Nation and other indigenous groups.
“Going forward, Albertans, Canadians and international visitors who marvel at the mountain peaks will learn only a name that respects the culture of the Indigenous people of our province,” an Alberta government statement reads.
Similar instances of name changes across the country have also emerged this year, as both Ontario and British Colombia move to change the names of streets to further the fight against racism and help with reconciliation efforts.
On July 8, 2021, the Vancouver city council voted unanimously to pass a motion to rename Trutch Street “because of racist policies against Indigenous people enacted by B.C.’s first lieutenant governor, Joseph Trutch.” They then announced that they would be allowing indigenous peoples to rename the very racist street.
Only a week later in Ontario, the Toronto city council approved the renaming of Dundas Street in July “due to its namesake’s connection to slavery,” which was named after Henry Dundas, a famous lieutenant of his age.
It is still unclear how many European landmarks and names will need to be obliterated for the sake of reconciliation, but it is clear that this movement will not be stopping any time soon.
