Origin of Oldman River name

The Oldman River, located in southern Alberta, Canada, derives its name from Blackfoot mythology, specifically from Napi, a central figure often referred to as the "Old Man." Napi is considered the creator of the Earth and all its living inhabitants in the traditional beliefs of the Piikani Nation, part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. The river's name reflects this cultural significance, as it is tied to sacred narratives and the mythological "Old Man's Playing Ground" located near its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains134.

In Piikani creation myths, Napi is credited with shaping the world and creating the river itself. One story describes how Napi sent animals to dive beneath a world covered in water to retrieve mud, which he used to form the land. Another narrative recounts the river's origin through a tale of shame and transformation, where Napi and others urinated to form a stream that eventually became the Oldman River, known to the Piikani as "Naw-pew-ooch-a-tay-ctos" or "the river the Old Man played upon"3. These stories underscore the river's deep spiritual importance to the Piikani people, who have inhabited the region for over 5,000 years, with evidence of human presence in the watershed dating back 8,000 years or more34.

Historically, the river's name has evolved in English usage. Before 1915, the river flowing past Lethbridge was called the Belly River, while its tributary was known as the Old Man River. Due to objections over the name "Belly" being considered inappropriate, and recognition that the Oldman had a larger stream flow at their confluence, the names were adjusted, and the main river became officially known as the Oldman River6. Despite these changes, the name's origin remains firmly rooted in the Blackfoot cultural heritage and the reverence for Napi, the Old Man, whose legacy continues to define the river's identity.

Citations:

1. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/oldman-river
2. https://oldmanwatershed.ca/history
3. https://cjns.brandonu.ca/wp-content/uploads/25-2-cjnsv25no2_pg571-607.pdf
4. https://oldmanwatershed.ca/aboutthewatershed/intro-to-our-home
5. https://www.britannica.com/place/Oldman-River
6. https://www.sunnysouthnews.com/blog/2014/09/23/A_river_runs_through_us/
7. https://darbylegal.wordpress.com/2020/03/08/milton-born-with-a-tooth-the-oldman-river-edition/

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