Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Mar 01/02) - Nahendeh MLA Jim Antoine is asking people how they feel about renaming Virginia Falls in honour of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

The idea surfaced during Antoine's recent travels in the Deh Cho, he said.

"It didn't come from me, it came from my constituents ... it needs general discussion. I've been following it up and asking the leadership and elders what they think," Antoine explained.

Virginia Falls lies within Nahanni Butte's traditional territory. Nahanni Butte Chief Leon Konisenta has expressed no objections to the name change, according to Antoine. Nor has Deh Cho Grand Chief Michael Nadli, although a requested letter of support from Deh Cho chiefs has yet to be produced, Antoine acknowledged.

The Dene have always referred to the falls as "The Big Falls" in the Slavey language anyway, he said.

Trudeau, who canoed down the South Nahanni River in 1970, was instrumental in having the area designated as a national park reserve.

Antoine said Trudeau showed tremendous foresight and was a great leader.

"We have to respect and honour our leaders," he said, adding that the name change would also boost tourism. "You just think if you put a name like that to a falls, you're certainly going to draw international attention."

Another possibility is to choose a mountain peak in the Nahanni range. A government push to rename the Yukon's Mount Logan after Trudeau was aborted last year.

There are several other Canadian landmarks and buildings being submitted to the Trudeau Foundation for consideration, Antoine noted.

Name changes for landmarks have to be approved by the Geographical Names Board of Canada or its secretariat. In the case of Virginia Falls, Parks Canada and the territorial government would both have to endorse the new name.

"If there's nobody opposing it in the Deh Cho then we could advance it forward through the screening committee," Antoine said. "There are a number of hoops to go through... it's still got a long ways to go."

New York businessman Fenley Hunter had named Virginia Falls after his daughter in 1928. Hunter made the first known map of the South Nahanni River inclusive of the Falls area.