Traditional place-naming continues

Grenier Lake in the Kitikmeot region could soon be known as Ekaloktotiak, if the Geographic Board of Canada accepts the traditional Inuinnaqtun name recommended by the Cambridge Bay Eniknigit Elders Committee.

“The elders told us that they were tired of people from other places naming their local lakes and geographic features after themselves,” Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson said.

“We all recognize the enduring relationship between Inuit and the land, and the importance of traditional names to the language, culture and history of Nunavummiut,” said Louis Tapardjuk, minister for Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.

Ekaloktotiak is just one example of the work done by the department’s Toponymy Program.