Abstract

A toponymic survey was recently conducted in the Whapmagoostui (Great Whale) area of northern Quebec. Over 3,000 names were collected. It is shown that these Cree place names encode a number of different kinds of environmental land-use, and historic information, some of which could be useful to archaeologists. It is suggested that systematic, regional place name surveys can be a useful departure point for developing research strategies and interpreting site date. Various types of Cree place names, from geomorphological and vegetational descriptions to those with mythological referents are discussed, both in terms of their practical functions and in terms of Cree ideology and world view. The possible archaeological implications of different types of names are discussed.