Kansuhsaptuwey
North Riverfront Trail · Trail of AncestorsThe City says the name honours the ancestors who lived there and evokes the tracks they left on the trail.
Wolastoq, Sitansisk and the land where we run.
A land acknowledgement connected to our routes, the names we use and our responsibility to learn from Wolastoqey-led sources.
Our acknowledgement
We gather on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Wolastoqiyik.
Our Monday and Wednesday loop follows both banks of the Wolastoq, also known as the Saint John River. It begins on the north bank near Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation), an urban Wolastoqey community beside the river.
The Peace and Friendship Treaties did not surrender lands, waters or resources. They remain legally binding. Acknowledging this relationship asks us to learn whose rights continue here, care for the place where we gather and follow Wolastoqiyik communities’ lead.
The names on our route
Two trails. Two locally established Wolastoqey names.
In 2024, the City of Fredericton added Wolastoqey names to signs on three trails after working with Wolastoqey leaders and the Fredericton Trails Coalition. Our regular loop uses two of them. The City notes that the English and French titles are interpretive descriptions, not word-for-word translations.
Wapapaptuwey
South Riverfront Trail · Trail of Wampum Belt TeachingsThe City connects this name to the historic two-row wampum belt and respect between nations.
Names worth learning
Listen to the people who speak the language.
Wolastoqey is a living language. Its revitalization is led by Wolastoqey speakers, educators and families. We use a few publicly established community names here and link to speaker recordings instead of inventing translations or pronunciations.
Sitansisk
Sitansisk is the name the community uses. Its official site describes Sitansisk as an urban Wolastoqey community on the north bank of the Wolastoq, sharing this place with Fredericton.
Hear Sitansisk in the language portalWolastoq
Wolastoq is the name of the river. English and French renderings of its meaning vary across sources, so we keep the name Wolastoq in use.
Hear Wolastoq in the language portalWolastoqiyik · Wolastoqey
Wolastoqiyik names the people of the Wolastoq. Wolastoqey names their language and describes what pertains to the people and river.
Hear wolastoqey in the language portalLearn from the source
Begin with the organizations doing the work.
These links go directly to Sitansisk, Wolastoqiyik-led organizations and national resources dedicated to truth and reconciliation.
Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation)
Read the community’s own introduction, public news and resources.
Open the resourcePeskotomuhkati-Wolastoqey Language Portal
Explore the dictionary, videos and recordings made with speakers.
Open the resourceKehkimin Wolastoqey immersion school
Learn about local, land-based language revitalization led by Wolastoqiyik educators and families.
Open the resourceWolastoqey Rights Manual
Learn from Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick about history, treaties and continuing rights.
Open the resourceWolastoqey Language Fund
See how the Indigenous-led fund supports Kehkimin and Wolastoqey language revitalization.
Open the resourceTruth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
Read all 94 Calls to Action at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Open the resourceSeptember 30
A day for truth, remembrance and learning.
September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. It is a solemn day to remember the children who never returned home and honour residential school Survivors, their families and communities.
Each September, Devon Deer will direct attention to Indigenous-led public events and learning from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. We will not turn the day into a promotional club theme.
Acknowledgement in practice
Our words must lead to actions we can maintain.
- Use Wolastoq and publicly established Wolastoqey place names in our route writing.
- Learn from Indigenous-led sources and link to them directly.
- Share public Sitansisk and Wolastoqey learning opportunities when they are clearly open to the wider community.
- Keep September 30 free of club promotion or branded programming.
- Respect other trail users, follow trail rules and leave no litter beside the river.
- Review this page against community-led sources at least once a year and correct it when those sources change.