Traditional Gwich’in Place Names

What was old is new again for the Gwich’in of the Northwest Territories. On June 21, 2013 the Government of the Northwest Territories officially recognised over 400 traditional Gwich’in place names reflecting their land use across the Gwich’in Settlement Area of the NWT.

Through the efforts of the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute working closely with Gwich’in Elders between 1992 and 2012, the names of various geographic features were identified and registered with the NWT Cultural Places Program. In 2013, an exhibit was prepared and launched at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre to highlight this historic step in the evolution of NWT cultural heritage and geographical information.

During the 19th and 20th centuries many traditional place names fell into disuse or were replaced by colonial names for rivers, lakes, mountains and settlements. Through the efforts of the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute working closely with Gwich’in Elders between 1992 and 2012, these names have been repatriated to their rightful place.

Typical of an oral culture, Gwich’in place names are linked to the lives and stories of those who use the land and describe what is important about a location. The origin of place names can be inspired by the following:

• Geographical characteristics
• Resources
• People
• Historical events
• Legend sites
• Sacred places

Through interviews with elders and land users in the Gwich’in communities of Inuvik, Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson, researchers have captured not only the traditional names of places but their meanings and associated stories.

The Gwich’in place names project has recorded a large body of knowledge over the past 20 years, an important step in the ongoing process of Gwich’in culture and language revitalization.

As part of a temporary exhibit at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, six special places were selected to illustrate the work of the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute in researching these names. Select each one from the gallery below:

The following table lists the over 400 traditional Gwich’in geographic names that have been newly recognized in the Gwich’in Settlement Area.