Place Names

Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve – Place Names and Pronunciation Guide

Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve is in the traditional territory of the Sahtu Dene and Métis. The dialect used for place names in the park is that of the Shúhtaot’ine (Mountain Dene). Language is a key to understanding the cultural landscape of Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve. 

To know the land as the Shúhtaot’ine know the land, place names must be kept (or returned) to their original Dene (Slavey) language. Not all of the traditional place names are known amongst the Shúhtaot’ine who are alive today. However, Shúhtaot’ine elders have given new names to those places where the old names have been lost or forgotten.

“[Our Shúhtaot’ine Elders have lived their whole entire life in the area and were happy.] All the places may not mean anything to all people, but, they mean the world to the people who live off the area. We have to keep using the Elders’ place names as long as we can, for our future generations. If used in the same way, then we will benefit and get help from the area. Again, I cannot stress how important this area is for our people and future generations. But it has to be used and looked at differently, in our Shúhtaot’ine way.”

The English names given to places in the park were largely a result of surveyors, geologists and prospectors travelling through the area in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.

Place names will vary amongst Dene language speakers as well. Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve is in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, whereas Nahanni National Park Reserve is in the Dehcho Region. The Dehcho name may differ from the Sahtu name for the same location. For example, Tehjeh Deé is called Nahɂa Dehé in the Dehcho. Visitors are encouraged to use (or at least try) Dene place names. By using the Elders’ place names, park visitors are showing respect to the Sahtu Dene and Métis, and helping to keep language and culture as an integral part of the land.

Leon Andrew kindly provided the place names and several other pronunciations below. Another Elder (who wishes to remain anonymous) shared pronunciations for animals, plants and several others words.