Revitalizing Language and Land: New Mohawk Language Destination Pins Added to The Great Niagara Escarpment Indigenous Cultural Map

The Great Niagara Escarpment Indigenous Cultural Map has taken another bold step in honoring Indigenous heritage and deepening cultural understanding with the addition of new destination pins in the Mohawk language, also known as Kanien’kéha. This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to revitalize Indigenous languages and recognize the deep-rooted connections of the Haudenosaunee peoples to the lands that stretch across Ontario.

The digital map—developed by the Indigenous-led organization Plenty Canada in collaboration with cultural advisors, Elders, and community leaders—serves as a rich, interactive storytelling platform. It allows users to explore sites of Indigenous cultural significance along the Niagara Escarpment, which is recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. Now, with newly integrated Kanien’kéha place names and narratives, the map offers users a deeper linguistic and cultural experience.

The cultural map is increasingly being used as an educational tool in schools and universities, offering a counter-narrative to colonial histories of the region. By placing Indigenous languages at the forefront, the project challenges users to engage more respectfully and thoughtfully with the land.

There are 23 new pins to explore in Kanien’kéha:

• Spirit Rock Conservation Area / Yotstenhratsha’níhtonh
• Sho’aríshon Park / Kanataká:yon
• Scotsdale Heritage Farm / Kanataonwé:ke
• Saugeen First Nation / Tewa’kanhaka:ke
• Rattlesnake Point / Tsi Yonentakwenhtaká:yon’s
• Peter’s Island / Sa’tekakehrà:tsherat
• Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation / Otónnhya
• Mount Nemo / Tsi Yekahrayentiyohstáhkwa
• Metcalfe Rock / Tsi Yonontakahrontónnyon
• Hope Bay / Tsi Tkarontyá:kon
• Hilton Falls Conservation Area / Tsi Ratihswen’kara’kwen’tárhos
• High Falls / Tsi Ken’nikahneka’sénhtha
• Forks of the Credit Provincial Park / Tsi Tekahyonhó:ken
• Flower Pot Island / Yotsi’tsyaráhkwa Kawé:note
• Felker’s Fall Conservation Area / Tsi tekahnekawénhtha
• Eugenia Falls Conservation Area / Tsi yethe’serón:ni’s
• Crawford Lake Conservation Area / Kiyonywarihwaen
• Cabot Head Provincial Nature Reserve / Tsi Yotónnhyate
• Bruce Peninsula National Park / Tsi Yenen’tó:ren
• Bridal Veil Falls / Tsi Yaohawí:nonh
• Battlefield House Museum & Park National Historic Site / Tsi Rontkè:ron’s
• All Our Relations / Yakwatátenonhkwe
• Albion Falls / Tsi Tsyohkwà:tsheros

In a future update, these 23 destination pins will also be translated into Anishinaabemowin.
 
This work could not have been possible without the generous funding contributions from Canadian Heritage.

A special thanks to Elder Tehahenteh Frank Miller for providing the translations.
 
To explore this new update, visit: https://thegreatniagaraescarpment.ca/.
 
If you wish to contribute donations to this project, please visit: https://www.plentycanada.com/donate.html.

- Amanda Marie Harwood