LL-L 'Names' 2007.02.07 (10) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L - 07 February 2007 - Volume 10

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From: Paul Finlow-Bates <wolf_thunder51 at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L 'Language varieties' 2007.02.06 (10) [E]

From: Sandy Fleming <sandy at fleimin.demon.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L 'Language varieties' 2007.01.28 (03) [E]

What's the story behind "Head-Smashed-In"? Is that a direct English
translation of "Ottowa" or something? Whose head was smashed in, and
why??

Sandy Fleming
http://scotstext.org/
•

That's got to be one of World's best place names hasn't it?  It is
originally Blackfoot (who don't like to be called Blackfoot, but to my shame
I can't recall their real name).

The location is a bufallo jump, not far from the USA/Canada border in
Alberta.  Going back to prehistoric times, people would drive bison over a
cliff.  There are ancient stone "men" built of piles of stones, to assist in
the coralling.  The cliff is now about 15m high, though accumulated debris
at the base has lowered the drop, it was once much more.  There is (or at
least was) an overhang at the base.

About 1810 or thereabouts, as far as can be worked out, some genius decided
it would be fun to hide under the overhang and watch the bison tumble down
in front of him.

He waited. And waited. And getting impatient, decided to look out from his
refuge to see if they were coming yet.....!!

Paul Finlow-Bates
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