ʔamakʔis Qukin - Land of the Raven
The Ktunaxa have been here for tens of thousands of years or since the time of Creation . At that time there was a disturbance caused by a huge water monster known as Yawuʔnik̓ , who killed many of the animals . It was decided by the animals that Yawuʔnik had to be destroyed . A war party was formed by the chief animal , Naⱡmuqȼin . Yawuʔnik was quick to descend on the Kootenay ( wu · u ʔaqsⱡmaknik ʔakinmituk ) and Columbia ( Miȼ̓qaqas ) river system and the other animals gave chase .
Eventually Yawuʔnik was caught , killed , butchered and distributed among the animals . Yawuʔnik ’ s ribs were scattered throughout the region that now form the Hoodoos seen throughout the region . In all the excitement Naⱡmuqȼin rose to his feet and stood upright hitting his head on the ceiling of the sky . He knocked himself dead . His body forms the Rocky Mountains . When the prophecy was fulfilled the spirit animals ascended above and are now the guiding spirits of the Ktunaxa . The Ktunaxa people have been in this area since Naⱡmuqȼin fulfilled his prophecy and placed the Ktunaxa people in this area to be the keepers of the land .
The Ktunaxa occupied the area now recognized as Ȼaqahak ( Fernie ) for thousands of years before the arrival of the settlers . The area was known to be a winter hunting area where the Ktunaxa would hunt mountain sheep , mountain goat , moose , elk deer and other animals . They would trap and fish , and harvest natural vegetation . The Elk Valley is within ʔamakʔis Qukin ( Land of the Raven ) and was known for its mineral coal . The Ktunaxa would carry the coal with them to start their fires as they travelled to the different encampments as they followed the seasons in their homelands .
Find out more : Travel to the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre at St Eugene Resort on Mission Road near Cranbrook to take an interpretive tour . The centre is open Monday to Friday , plus Saturdays from May 17 and will offer weekly drop in activities including beading , plant walks , traditional games , legends and tipi raising . To book a tour or for more details , visit tkamnintik . com .
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