Richard Froese
South Peace News
Big Lakes County is supporting a plan by the provincial government to change the name of a creek southeast of Kinuso.
At its regular meeting July 24, council agreed to support the proposed name change of Island Creek to Keskihtawakay Creek.
The Alberta Geographical Names Program requests information and a statement of support from Big Lakes regarding a proposal to change the name of the creek, CAO David Reynolds wrote in a report to council.
The creek flows into the Swan River.
“The proposal for the name change is being made with the intention of honouring Patrick (Pat) Courtorielle, who was also known by his Cree name Keskihta- wakay” Reynolds wrote to council.
In the Cree language, the name Courtorielle translates as “short ear” and Keskihtawakay as “one ear”, program co-ordinator Ronald Kelland wrote in a letter to council.
Keskihtawakay came to Kinuso in 1914. He operated a pool hall and also worked as a fisherman, in road construction and as a railway section foreman.
During the winter, Keskihtawakay was responsible for a trap line on Island Creek.
“According to a Traditional Land Use Study done in 2011 by Swan River First Nation, the creek was known to them as Pat’s Creek,” Kelland wrote.
The origin of the name Island Creek is unknown but it is presumed to be named because of an island-like formation of the delta at the confluence of the creek and Swan River.
“The name Island Creek first appears on Department of Interior maps in 1922 and the name was formerly recognized by the Geographic Board of Canada in February 1954.
As part of the process to change names, the program invites opinions and concerns by affected municipalities.
Letters of support for the current proposal have been received from the Town of Swan Hills,, Swan River First Nation, Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre and former Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen, Kelland wrote.
He added two other creeks in the county are being proposed for new names. Ben Gladue Creek and Old Man Creek are located in the Faust area. The Historical Resources Act gives jurisdiction for the naming of geographical features in Alberta to the minister of arts, culture and the status of women, Kelland wrote.
All naming proposals are evaluated using the “Principles of Geographical Naming in Alberta”, which are based on established national guidelines and practices.
Once geographical names are adopted by the minister, provincial and federal names and mapping and databases are updated so that the name will start to appear on official base maps.