Have you ever noticed that places and parks tend to be named after people?
It hasn't always been this way.
Traditionally, First Peoples named places based on the natural features of the land. A great place to explore traditional names is the Squamish Atlas.
Two of my favourite names from Squamish Atlas are Shishay̓u7ay̓ [Shi • sha • y̓u7 • ay̓] which means "place of screech owls" and Kwékwetxwm [Kwe • kwet • xwm] which means
"rumbling noise ".
Go to your favourite park or place. Sit quietly with a notebook and record what features stand out to you the most. Perhaps it is the smell of the flowers, the colour of the trees, or the sound of the birds.
Once you have determined what features define the place for you it is time to choose a new name for your place based on its natural features. Write your place's new name in your journal.
Happy place re-naming!
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