Trail Stories

Background

For a few years, Elders expressed the need for mapping Ktunaxa trails in the territory to strengthen rights and titles claims.

In July 2023, Traditional Knowledge and Language secured funding to conduct mapping for three years.

The project is championed by ʔa·knusti Jared Cayenne and open to all ʔa·knusti from Ktunaxa First Nations, including those who are working via Ktunaxa Nation Council's ʔa·knusti initiatives.

Current State

Currently, ʔa·knusti are gaining knowledge of trails and Ktunaxa history of the area the trails are in.

We had two weeks in field mapping trails from Alfred Joseph’s map and knowledge.

During that time Alfred Joseph and from four to six ʔa·knusti were on the land everyday, with the KNC GIS (geographical information systems) specialist Sebastian Martinez and Ktunaxa videographer Eldon Stanley to record the journey.

This winter Alfred Joseph will teach horsemanship skills for three weeks. He will teach about packing, saddling and riding horses to build capacities for this project.

Next Steps

Jared Cayenne, with support from TKL, will also meet with Ralph Gravelle to talk about trails he wanted mapped in order to prepare next fiscal year activities.

Opportunities/Impacts between Sectors and with External Bodies

• Potential tourism opportunity when trails are mapped an established. Having Ktunaxa tour guide taking people and teaching history.
• Reconnecting Ktunaxa back to land and each other
• Learning Ktunaxa history
• Sharing the knowledge between Elders and young Nation members on the land

Collecting data that could be used to protect the land in case of future claims, and could be shared with Nation members