The market park project in Creston has officially been named following a ceremony yesterday, June 20.
The park hosts the weekly Creston farmer’s market and was a combined effort of the Lower Kootenay Band and the Town of Creston.
In honour of those who called the valley home long before the settlers arrived, the park was named ʔak̓uǂni, pronounced ah-kooth-nee, which means “journey” or “the act of paddling” in the ktunaxa language.
Mayor Arnold DeBoon says they’re proud to present a part of the yaqan nukiy heritage in town.
“We are proud to name the park in the ktunaxa language, honoring the cultural heritage of the yaqan nukiy. Incorporating yaqan nukiy features into the park represents our commitment to celebrating and preserving their history and culture.”
At the ceremony, DeBoon adds they will continue to work with the LKB to further their steps towards reconciliation.
“We have more of a rejuvenated, a new spirit of working together and coming up with common goals. And again, trying to restore what was lost here. Because that’s the hardest part; how much our Indigenous people have lost here in the development of the valley. And it has interfered with their way of life. We’re trying to find ways to bring some of that back.”
During the ceremony, Nasukin Jason Louie gave a demonstration on how to properly pronounce the name, as well as explaining the name’s origin and its meaning to the yaqan nukiy people.
The park displays a few installations honouring the yaqan nukiy, including a large tipi, the first of its kind in Creston in over 100 years.
“From the time when we first brought Dave Thompson and the Jesuit Father DeSmet to our territory Flatbow Kootenay or ʔak̓aq̓ⱡahaⱡxu were known and documented to be instrumental in the development of our territory as we know it today. With an unwritten language, the word ʔak̓uǂni became “A Kootenay” and the name for the territory became the Kootenays,” says Lower Kootenay Band Councillor Robin Louie in the release.
“Working in peace and thriving together for the betterment of all of our future generations is the foundation of the culture of the land that we all call home, and what makes this such a great place to live. Since time immemorial people from all directions around the continent have come to the land where two great rivers flow in a circle to begin their ʔak̓uǂni, and what a better place to begin than right here.”
At the ceremony, Louie adds that it was a pleasure to work with the town again.
“It’s that time. It’s the time that we actually return back to where we start working together again like we used to,” comments Louie.
“This is such a beautiful opportunity. I was really happy that we had the opportunity to actually participate, instead of just being pulled in that last minute and asked for a name.”
The park was built in part thanks to funders PacifiCan and the Columbia Basin Trust.
“Town of Crescent is very supportive, very helpful and we actually had a lot of fun,” says Louie.
“It was really fun to actually be to teach the city employees how to set up a tipi.”
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