THIS WEBSITE IS ABOUT THE INNU PEOPLE AND PLACE NAMES IN LABRADOR. PEOPLE OF EVERY CULTURE GIVE NAMES TO THE LAKES, RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, AND OTHER PLACE NAMES FOR RIVERS, LANDS, ETC.
FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE THEY GIVE INFORMATION THAT IS GOOD FOR HUNTING, FISHING, OR THEY DESCRIBE THE LAND IN SOME WAY THAT HELPS PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE TRAVELING. AN EXAMPLE FROM LABRADOR INNU IS KUKAMESS AT KATAHT MEANING "WHERE THERE ARE TROUT." THEY GIVE PEOPLE DIRECTION ABOUT WHERE TO GO BY USING PLACE NAMES. IMAGINE TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE WHERE TO GO WITHOUT HAVING NAMES OF MOUNTAINS OR RIVERS. PLACE NAMES ARE USED WHEN TELLING STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES ON THE LAND. THE NAMES OF PLACES MAY RECORD SIGNIFICANT LIFE EVENTS SUCH AS BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND BURIAL LOCATIONS, CAMPSITES, OR CANOE MAKING, SALMON SPEARING, TRAPPING, PORCUPINE SINGING, CARIBOU HUNTING AND OTHER FORMS OF LAND USE TOOK PLACE.
ASHTUNKANIK, THE INNU NAME FOR SNEGAMOAK LAKE, MEANS CANOE BUILDING SHELTER. ANOTHER INNU EXAMPLE IS KAUIPUSHKAMAT, WHICH MEANS "BURNT AREA LAKE." THESE NAMES GIVE ARCHAEOLOGISTS CLUES TO INNU LIFE DURING FUR TRADE PERIOD AS WELL AS BEFORE CONTACT WITH ANGLOS. THEY HELP THEM FIND ANCIENT SITES.
SOME PLACES NAMES REFER TO RELIGIOUS EVENTS. AN INNU PLACE WITH GREAT RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE IS ON AN ISLAND NAMED AFTER AN OLD SHAMAN WITH A LONG NAME. PLACE NAMES ARE IMPORTANT FOR A PEOPLE'S SENSE OF PLACE..
IN 2004 PETER ARMITAGE AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE PUT TOGETHER ANOTHER PROJECT FOR MAPPING THEIR AREA. AND THEN THEY PUT IT ON A DIGITAL MAP BASE USING GIS.
INNU.COM
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