There’s a river just across the street from my house. When I go outside in the morning, it smells and feels like I’m at the cottage. I love that. The waterway is called the Assiniboine, one of two major rivers that wind through Winnipeg. It’s of Indigenous origin, as many places are in this country. That doesn’t cross the minds of many Canadians. It should.
The Assiniboine River’s name comes from the Assiniboine people, whose traditional lands in Canada were southwestern Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan. The word means “those who cook by placing hot stones in water.” It took only a few minutes to research that. Discovering the meaning of the word has strengthened what the river, and where I live, means to me.
I think there’s a benefit in figuring out whether or not your lake is in an Indigenous language or derives from an Indigenous word. I’ve found, in the course of my career, that fostering connections creates accountability. Our lands and waters are sick, and even if we don’t agree on everything, we must agree we need to do whatever we can to keep them healthy. So, what are some lakes and rivers around you that you could learn more about and connect to? Do some research; online is a good place to start. (I used the Canadian Encyclopedia, the Great Lakes Guide, and Britannica.) Connecting to your waterways will generate intention to protect them, just as it did for the Indigenous people who have cared for them for thousands of years.
This story originally appeared in our May ’23 issue.
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