Mobile Menu

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon
  • Flickr Icon

West Coast Traveller

  • Destinations
    • Canada
      • British Columbia
        • Vancouver Island, B.C.
        • Okanagan
        • Lower Mainland, B.C.
        • Northern B.C.
        • Interior B.C.
        • Kootenays/Rockies
      • Alberta
      • Yukon
      • Northwest Territories
    • U.S.A.
      • Alaska
      • Washington
      • Oregon
      • California
    • West Coast Galleries
  • Experiences
    • Things To Do
    • Staycation Secrets
      • Canada
      • U.S.A.
    • Adventure
      • Adrenaline
      • Beaches
      • Biking
      • Camping
      • Fishing
      • Hiking
      • Hunting and Fishing
      • Rafting
      • Skiing
    • Sip & Savour
    • Family Activities
    • Indigenous Tourism
    • Accessible Travel
    • Travel Tips & Advisories
  • West Coast Galleries
    • Nature Photography
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Cityscapes
  • Contests
    • It’s A Shore Thing Summer Getaway
    • Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch Getaway
    • Raft. Relax. Recharge
  • About
    • The Armchair Traveller Newsletter
    • Explore our travel guides
    • Impressive West Coast
    • West Coast Partners
    • West Coast Traveller Directory
    • Join Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Explore West Coast Traveller on TikTok
  • Search
You are here: Home / news / Indigenous place names and history among key recommendations for Banff tourism vision

Before the picturesque Lake Louise received its current name, the Iyarhe Nakoda people called it Hora Juthin Imne, or Lake of the Little Fishes, because the fish would only grow to a certain size in the cold glacial waters. An Indigenous tourism working group has recommended incorporating Indigenous names, culture and history back into Banff National Park.

Indigenous place names and history among key recommendations for Banff tourism vision

December 26, 2022 //  by The Canadian Press

Share this:

By Jessica Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Rocky Mountain Outlook

When it comes to tourism in Banff National Park, Indigenous peoples are finally getting a seat at the table, helping to shape the national park’s strategic vision for the industry after roughly more than a century without an invitation.

An Indigenous tourism working group, part of the Banff and Lake Louise Tourism, Town of Banff and Parks Canada Tourism Together master plan to guide Banff National Park into the next decade, wants to see the industry become more inclusive and authentic in sharing Indigenous histories, stories and spaces throughout the park.

While there’s a long way to go, Travis Rider, a member of Iyarhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation and of the working group, said just being invited to be a part of the conversation is a big step forward.

“Being included as Stoney people, and then the greater Indigenous peoples being included in this planning in itself is something,” he said. “Going back to even just 10 years ago, I don’t think this would have been possible.

“But we’re in 2022, and we’re starting to see a lot of people interested in Indigenous histories and places — not just in Banff National Park and the greater Rocky Mountains, but throughout the country.”

READ MORE: Banff National Park plan focuses on climate change, traffic, Indigenous relations

The working group, which was one of six formed to guide different areas of tourism planning, was asked to brainstorm and prioritize ideas and recommendations.

The three main areas of focus involve creating dedicated spaces for Indigenous peoples to practice their culture, generating more Indigenous tourism business opportunities, and thoughtfully addressing the Indigenous-led LANDBACK movement as it relates to reclaiming spaces in Banff National Park.

In total, 22 ideas and recommendations were generated by the 18-person working group that included mostly Indigenous but also non-Indigenous members.

Kirsten Ryder, of Iyarhe Nakoda First Nation, said her involvement was mainly in conversations around creating dedicated spaces for Indigenous peoples, originating with a vision for a cultural centre in the Banff townsite.

“This would be a place supported and fostered in the town of Banff,” Ryder said. “It would not only create a sense of belonging for Indigenous peoples, but it would be welcoming of visitors and others who wish to learn about the Stoney Nakoda and other First Nations, along with the history of this place.

“Having somewhere we can do that … it could encompass so many things that would really contribute to tourism in Banff. That can include hosting Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs, but also having cultural events and creating cross-cultural learning opportunities.”

READ MORE: See Alberta’s parks through an Indigenous lens

Successfully creating space for Indigenous tourism in Banff National Park will require more than simply handing over the keys to a building.

“It would have to mean providing training support and more educational support for local Indigenous communities in the areas of tourism and hospitality,” said Ryder.

“Basically, it’s about reaching out and tapping those untapped resources — which are the people in these communities, and creating meaningful partnerships which help them to succeed.”

Other key recommendations from the group focused on reverting place names within the national park to their traditional Indigenous monikers, and the significance of certain sites to the Iyarhe Nakoda and other Indigenous peoples, some of which have become popular tourist destinations.

One such location has since become widely known as the crown jewel of Banff National Park — Lake Louise.

Before the picturesque lake received its name, the Iyarhe Nakoda people called it Hora Juthin Imne, or Lake of the Little Fishes, because the fish would only grow to a certain size in the cold glacial waters.

READ MORE: This winter canyon hike is a must-visit for your Banff adventures

“If you’re in the Bow Valley, there are certain areas that have place names or signage there that you can read and learn from,” said Ryder. “But you often won’t see Indigenous history tied in when there most likely is a tie to an Indigenous story or history of that area that was left out.

“And you’ll rarely, if ever, see a story about an Indigenous historical figure, but there are plenty of examples of non-Indigenous people whose histories are told.”

Another idea suggested by the working group was to build a pathway connecting Mini Thni (Morley) to Lake Louise.

The Iyarhe Nakoda once erected teepees along the shoreline of Hora Juthin Imne, practicing ceremony, hunting, fishing and gathering.

Now, shuttles run tourists back and forth to manage visitation throughout the summer as what limited paid parking there is often fills up before 8 a.m.

Interpretive signage displayed at the waterfront tells visitors about the century-long history of Lake Louise as a hiking and climbing centre, including plaques about the teahouse and Abbot Pass hut.

But when a group of Iyarhe Nakoda First Nation members visited the site in 2020 for an inaugural Discovery Day event, they told a different version of the lake’s history, one that pre-dates its discovery by settlers and shifted the focus onto the lesser-known Iyarhe Nakoda guide who led them there — Edwin Hunter.

Hunter guided European settler Tom Wilson to the lake in 1882, and Wilson subsequently named the site Emerald Lake, which was later changed to Lake Louise in 1884 to honour Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria.

Three years after Hunter led Wilson to Hora Juthin Imne, the Canadian government implemented a pass system restricting the movements of Indigenous peoples without authorization. Before 1885, the Iyarhe Nakoda and other Indigenous groups used different areas throughout Banff National Park, moving freely.

Indigenous peoples were banned from the national park, with the exception of during Banff Indian Days, where groups were invited back in to entertain tourists.

The event represented tourist dollars for the park’s economy and festival organizers, and as a result, Indigenous peoples were welcome for the benefits they offered, but only under tight restrictions.

Looking at the history between Parks Canada and the area’s Indigenous peoples, Rider said more discussion should be had to ensure there is no room for misuse of Indigenous culture or knowledge going forward.

“I think that’s a deeper conversation we need to have as a community … pulling back to see what we can do in some of these already very popular places in terms of bringing back our practices without being exploited, and without exploitation of what we’re doing,” he said.

“We like to guard our stories so that they’re not misinterpreted and they’re not exploited.”

Ryder said she did not personally make recommendations around conversations about the LANDBACK movement within the working group, though she feels its presence and what it represents speaks for itself.

“I think that’s really tied to the history of Parks Canada pushing out local Indigenous groups to implement Banff National Park,” said Ryder. “These measures have prevented us from being able to access the land to hunt and harvest from it for ceremony, among many other things.

“There definitely needs to be a better process and approach to allow Indigenous peoples to interact with what are now known as parks lands.”

Some recommendations suggest giving land back to traditional territory holders, providing compensation for ceremony and allowing Indigenous communities a say in land use decisions over corporate stakeholders.

Nancy DaDalt, director of visitor experiences for Banff and Lake Louise Tourism (BLLT), said part of the group’s strategic vision is to create an Indigenous advisory council to help guide the final 10-year plan when it’s released in 2023.

“That group would really help us in the long-term as we begin to go into this area,” she said. “It’s really important work and we want to do it right. Relationship-building takes time and we want to make sure we do that right as well.”

To assist in the formation of the Indigenous work group to ensure appropriate representation and Indigenous cultural awareness, BLLT put out a request for proposal, which was awarded to Indigenous-owned consultant company Tataga Inc.

It was through the company’s principal and founder, Alec Carton of Carry the Kettle First Nation in Treaty 4, that BLLT was able to find Indigenous neighbours to support the group’s work.

The same process was used in forming other working groups, though DaDalt admits it took longer to form the Indigenous group than others, and their conversations also ran longer than what was allotted in the surveying and ideation process.

“We’re still relatively new to this arena and learning a ton. I know that taking the time was worth it though. Building relationships takes time and we want to make sure that we do that right — that is the first step,” said DaDalt.

“This isn’t just about making money, it’s about providing an opportunity for entrepreneurs to thrive here and being able to showcase our commitment that tourism is reconciliation in action.”

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Share this:

Category: news, TravelTag: Banff, Canada, Indigenous Tourism, Places to Visit in Alberta, Rocky Mountains, WCT Intro

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Knowledge is power: New guidebooks map accessible PNW trails

What is an ‘easy’ hike? For a mountaineer, an easy hike might be one that…

Knowledge is power: New guidebooks map accessible PNW trailsRead More

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

A Kelowna photographer captured images of a pack of wolves while on a weekend hike…

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in KelownaRead More

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

He might be a better skier and influencer than any Gen Z could imagine, possibly…

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in GoldenRead More

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

What’s going on around the West Coast? Here’s your inside guide to what’s happening where,…

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!Read More

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf Islands

Many travellers believe spring and summer are the best times to explore. That means the…

Nothing is the New Something in B.C.’s Southern Gulf IslandsRead More

Vancouver Island photographer’s bald eagle image is Canada’s choice for international contest

A dramatic image by professional Vancouver Island photographer Anthony Bucci will represent Canada in a…

Vancouver Island photographer’s bald eagle image is Canada’s choice for international contestRead More

Fuel up for outdoor adventures in The ‘Loops: Serving up seconds on magical meals and memories!

The best compliment you can give a chef? Returning for seconds! Oh, and to tell…

Fuel up for outdoor adventures in The ‘Loops: Serving up seconds on magical meals and memories!Read More

The writer who’s been everywhere shares his 2023 California travel wish list

By Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times I’ve been meandering around California for decades, which is…

The writer who’s been everywhere shares his 2023 California travel wish listRead More

Tourism hopes high in B.C. as China lifts border rules, but recovery may take months

Zhengwen Hao says the phone for his Richmond, B.C., restaurant hasn’t stopped buzzing in recent…

Tourism hopes high in B.C. as China lifts border rules, but recovery may take monthsRead More

Previous Post: « Look for the Masterpiste Gallery at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Next Post: Answer the call of the powder! Snowmobiling hot spots in B.C.’s North Thompson Valley »

Primary Sidebar

Things To Do

Knowledge is power: New guidebooks map accessible PNW trails

January 30, 2023

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

January 25, 2023

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

January 25, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

January 24, 2023

Recent Posts

Knowledge is power: New guidebooks map accessible PNW trails

January 30, 2023

‘It was a super cool experience’: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna

January 25, 2023

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

January 25, 2023

Travel on the Fly: Dine Out Vancouver; Waddling with penguins in Calgary; Fernie’s powder perfection + more!

January 24, 2023

Footer

The West Coast Traveller has an immense social media footprint, with eight social media sites and and 125,000+ social followers.

Join us on social media and Join Our Community by sharing your stuff!

Get Inspired

News Media Groups

Black Press Media
Sound Publishing
Oahu Media Group
Alaska
Boulevard Magazines
Used.ca

Let’s Get Social

West Coast Traveller
I Love British Columbia
I Love Alberta
I Love Yukon
I Love Northwest Territories
I Love Washington
I Love California
I Love Oregon
I Love Alaska

Visit Our Companion Sites

I Love Saskatchewan
I Love Manitoba
I Love Nunavut
I Love Ontario
I Love Quebec
I Love Newfoundland and Labrador
I Love Nova Scotia
I Love New Brunswick
I Love Prince Edward Island

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • TikTok Icon

Copyright © 2023 West Coast Traveller and · All Rights Reserved