Áísínai’pi – The Matapiiski (Hoodoo) Trail
This trail in Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) reveals sandstone-carved petroglyphs and pictographs depicting 4,000 years of sacred history, spirits and journeys of Indigenous peoples who once lived there. Áísínai’pi is Niitsitapi for “where the writings are.”
Minihapa – Banff
Many of the Indigenous names for Banff reference waterfalls: Minihapa in Stoney Nakoda translates to “waterfall place,” Nipika-pakitik in Nehiyaw (Cree) references Cascade Falls, and Nato-oh-siskoom in Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) means “holy springs.”
Minn-waki – Lake Minnewanka
For centuries, the Stoney Nakoda First Nations people have been connected to Minn-waki, “lake of the spirits,” hunting and camping along the shorelines of this large, glacial lake just outside of the Banff townsite. The Stoney Nakoda people respect as well as fear Minn-waki for the spirits that reside there.
Itsipa’ksikkihkinihkootsiyao’pi – Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where Niitsitapi tribes like the Kainai (Blood) and Piikani (Peigan) would herd thousands of buffalo off a cliff to use for food, hides, bones, dung and other necessities. Itsipa’ksikkihkinihkootsiyao’pi translates to “Where he got his Head Smashed In.”