name the lake
In 1972, the Alberta Government opened the "Name the Lake" contest to Alberta school children in Grades 1 through IX. The children were invited to suggest a name for the lake to be formed after construction of the Bighorn Dam which flooded significant parts of the North Saskatchewan River Valley, including Indigenous homes, pastures, and burial grounds, without prior public consultation or environmental assessment.
Legislative Assembly of Alberta, 17th Legislature, 1st Session, Friday, May 5, 1972
“ In total 1,910 entries were received, and a panel of three judges (Thomas Bert, James MacGregor, Hugh Dempsey) selected the best essays from each grade level, and nine names were forwarded to the Geographic Board of Alberta, which selected the name for the lake.
These are the selected nine selected students who received a copy of the Atlas of Alberta and a $50 CAD prize.
Janet Miller from Alder Flats suggested the Pete Pangman Lake
James Hanson from Portsmouth School suggested the David Thompson Lake
Ronald Toews from Botha School, Botha suggested Lake Walking Eagle
Jake Jameson from Caroline School suggested Abraham Lake
Grace Gopher from Sunchild O'Chiese School suggested Windy Point Lake
Sandra Cordan from Eckville Senior School suggested Lake Charlotte
Dianne Martyniuk from Calgary's Viscount Bennett Junior High suggested Lake Wesley
Berva Beaver from Reed Ranch School in Olds suggested Walking Eagle Lake
Karen Schauerte from Alder Flats suggested Abraham Lake
The Geographic Board picked the name Abraham Lake proposed by Karen Shauerte, a Grade IX student at Alder Flats school in Alder Flats, and Jake Jameson, a Grade IV student at Caroline school in Caroline. Both students received a $4OO CAD prize.
Jake Jameson's essay:
"I believe that Abraham Lake would be a good name for the man-made lake on the North Saskatchewan River. My reason for this is because of the five Stoney Indian children's graves belonging to the Abraham family I have seen near Windy Point many times. These and other Indian graves around this area will be covered by the lake."
Karen Schauerte's essay:
"I think the Big Horn Dam should be named Abraham Lake in memory of Silas Abraham, a Stoney Indian from Morley. Silas Abraham and a number of other Morley Indians hunted and trapped the Kootenay Plains and traded with the Hudson's Bay and the northwest trading companies. Any of the Indians who died were buried on the plains. At least three of these are Abrahams. Some graves will be under flood water. Abraham Lake would be historical, very appropriate, and a tribute to the deceased Indians, especially Silas Abraham who was a good and noble Indian. Indians, being superstitious, may be appeased by the name Abraham Lake covering the remains of their departed brethren. The great Manitou may smile kindly on the red man's white brother who is flooding a great hunting ground for remembering a great Indian,”