Video recording of Paul McLauchlin's presentation on water issues in the Gilby Community Hall on October 16,2025
From "Sundance River" to "Medicine River"
The Medicine River in central Alberta carries a name that reflects a significant historical translation shift from Indigenous terminology to colonial administration. The river's naming history demonstrates the complex process of how Indigenous place names were altered during European settlement. Original Indigenous Name The Medicine River was originally known by the Cree words "muskiki" and "nipagwasimow," which together translate to "Sundance River" . This original name held deep cultural significance, referring to the sacred Sundance ceremony that was central to Plains Indigenous spiritual practices. medicineriverwatershed +5 According to historical documentation, the Cree had at least two names for the river. One was "Muskiki" and the other was described as a "tongue-twister which meant 'Sundance River'". The Medicine Lake, one of the sources of the river, was also part of this naming system. myrnapearman First Offic...
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