[WHITE] PLACE-NAMES IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS 525 
Indians, and named by them the ‘Old Man’s playing ground.’ It is from 
this spot that the Old Man river derives its name, many superstitions attaching 
to the neighbourhood. The ‘Old Man,’ Wi-suk-7-tshak of the Crees, is a 
mythical character, with supernatural attributes, familiar under one name or 
other, to all students of American folklore.’ The name of the river in 
Cree is Is-e-enoo-met-ewe-win-si-pi, in Stoney, Is-sa-goo-win-ih-da-wap-ta. On 
the map accompanying the Palliser Expedition report it is designated ‘Old 
Man or Arrow river.’ 
Oliver; creek, Oldman river, Alta.; after the late W. Oliver, one of the early settlers. 
Opabin; creek, Brazeau river, Alta., and pass, Kicking Horse river, B.C.; Stoney 
Indian word signifying ‘rocky.’ 
Opal; mountains, Kananaskis river, Alta.; from small cavities found here, lined 
with quartz crystals, coated with films of opal. 
Osborn; mount, Elk river, B.C.; after Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborn, New York. 
(Hornaday) 
Ottertail; river, mountain, pass and railway station, Kicking Horse river, B.C.; 
translation of Indian name of the river. 
Otto; pass and creek, Kicking Horse river, B.C.; probably after Bruce Otto, who, 
in 1910, travelled by Baker and Howse passes and North Saskatchewan river 
to the Freshfield group. 
Owen; mount, Kicking Horse river, B.C.; named by J. J. McArthur in 1886, 
after a member of his survey party, Frank Owen. 
Oyster; creek, Oldman river, Alta.; there are large beds of fossil oysters (ostrea) 
in its banks. 
Oyster; peak, Bow river, Alta.; after ‘‘certain curious formations of limestone 
resembling oysters that were found in the shale around its base.’’ Probably 
ostrea fossils. 
*Ozada; railway station, Bow river, Alta.; Stoney Indian word meaning ‘the forks 
of the river’; it is near the junction of the Bow and Kananaskis. 
Pl 
Paget; mount, Kicking Horse river, B.C.; after Rev. Dean Paget, Calgary, who 
made the first recorded ascent. 
Palliser; range, Bow river, Alta. and river, Kootenay river, B.C.; after Capt. 
John Palliser (1807-87); commanded an expedition, 1857-60, to explore the 
country between the 49th parallel and the North Saskatchewan and between 
the Red river and the Rockies. He was also instructed to ascertain whether 
there were practicable passes south of Athabaska pass. 
Palliser; railway station, Kicking Horse river, B.C. 
Panther; river and mountain, Red Deer river, Alta.; Dawson says: ‘Panther 
river is probably a sufficiently near approach to the Indian name of the stream 
which signifies ‘The river where the mountain lion was killed.’ This in Stoney, 
is rendered It-mos-tunga’'-moos-ta-ga-té-wap-ta; in Cree, Mis’-st'-pi'-sioo-ka’- 
nipa’-htht-st’-pi’.”’ 
Paradise; valley, Bow river, Alta.; Wilcox says: the sun ‘“‘flooded the valley on 
the eastern side of the pass with light, bringing out so charmingly the contrasts 
in colour . . . . that it was promptly named ‘Wastach’ (qg.v.) or ‘Paradise’ 
valley.” : 
Park; mountain, Kicking Horse river, B.C.; descriptive of park-like country in 
neighbourhood. (Wilson) 
Parsons; railway station, Columbia river, B.C.; after a resident. 
