The Three Sisters (Alberta)
| The Three Sisters | |
|---|---|
 Three Sisters above the rooftops of Canmore | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,936 m (9,633 ft)[1] |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
| Coordinates | 51°01′29″N 115°19′50″W / 51.02472°N 115.33056°W[2] |
| Geography | |
  The Three Sisters | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Parent range | South Banff Range, Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82O3 Canmore[2] |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1887 by J.J. McArthur[1] |
The Three Sisters are a trio of peaks near Canmore, Alberta, Canada. They are known individually as Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister.[3]
In the traditional language of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney) the peaks are also referred to as the three sisters. However, the name refers to a story of Ĩ-ktomnĩ, the old man or trickster, who would promise 'three sisters' in marriage whenever he was in trouble.[4]
This trio of peaks has a significant role in the town of Canmore, tourism, and hiking in the area. The Three Sisters may be the most recognized peaks in the Bow River Valley.[5]
History[edit]
In 1883, Albert Rogers, a nephew of Major A. B. Rogers, was the first settler to name the mountains when he saw the sides of the peaks covered in snow, resembling three praying nuns:[6][1]
There had been quite a heavy snowstorm in the night, and when we got up in the morning and looked out of the tent I noticed each of the three peaks had a heavy veil of snow on the north side and I said to the boys, 'Look at the Three Nuns'.
Initially called the Three Nuns, they were later renamed the Three Sisters. This last name first appeared on George Mercer Dawson's 1886 map, which apparently found the name, and was more appropriate in a spirit of Protestantism.[1]
Another story is that the first superintendent of Banff National Park, George Stewart, named it after his three daughters: Frances, Olive, and Grace.[7]
Peaks[edit]
| Peak | metres | feet | Coordinates | First Ascent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sister (Faith) | 2,936 | 9,632 | 51°00′50″N 115°21′00″W / 51.01389°N 115.35000°W | 1887 |
| Middle Sister (Charity) | 2,769 | 9,084 | 51°01′00″N 115°20′00″W / 51.01667°N 115.33333°W | 1920 |
| Little Sister (Hope) | 2,694 | 8,840 | 51°01′30″N 115°20′00″W / 51.02500°N 115.33333°W | 1925 |
Big Sister is a moderate scramble on southwestern slopes and is very steep while Middle Sister is an easy scramble from Stewart Creek. Little Sister is a more difficult ascent requiring technical climbing skills. The Three Sisters Traverse is an obscure and dangerous climb seldom done.[8][9]
Local wildlife in surrounding area[edit]
Being located in the southern Canmore mountain area, there are several wildlife notorious for the area. Wildlife species include but are not limited to grizzly bears, wolverines, lynxes, wolves, cougars, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep. In particular, the grizzly bear, lynx, and wolverine are considered endangered in this region.[10]
Indigenous people in surrounding area[edit]
The Three Sisters mountain is located near Canmore, AB. Canmore is located within the region of Treaty 7, which exists in Southern Alberta. Canmore exists within the traditional territory of the Iyarhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda), the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy) and Tsuut’ina (Beaver, Sarcee) First Nation.
At present, the Stoney Nakoda live primarily on six reserves; Stoney Indian Reserves #142, #143, #144 at Mini Thni (Morley) located 65 km. west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway between Calgary and Banff; Rabbit Lake Indian Reserve #142B northwest of Mini Thni (Morley); Eden Valley Indian Reserve #216, located 120 km. south of Mini Thni (Morley) near Longview; and the Bighorn Reserve #144A located 265 km. northwest of Mini Thni (Morley) near Nordegg.
The Stoney Nakoda comprises three First Nations: Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney (Wesley) Nation.
The Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy) is a Tribal Council for the Blackfoot Confederacy Nations of Kainai (Blood Tribe), Siksika (Blackfoot), Piikani (Peigan) and Aamskapi Pikuni (Blackfeet). Aamskapi Pikuni (Blackfeet) Nation is located in the United States of America. The Kainai (Blood Tribe), Siksika (Blackfoot), Piikani (Peigan) reservations are located across Treaty 7.
Treaty 7 is also home to the Tsuut’ina First Nation (Beaver, Sarcee). The reservation is west of Calgary.
<ref>https://stoneynakodanations.com/about-us/<ref> <ref>https://blackfootconfederacy.ca/about/<ref> <ref>https://tsuutina.com/our-history/<ref> <ref>https://stoneynakodanations.com/about-us/<ref> <ref>https://blackfootconfederacy.ca/about/<ref> <ref>https://legacy.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/For%20Members/ProfessionalDevelopment/Walking%20Together/PD-WT-16f%20-%20Numbered%20Treaties%207.pdf<ref>
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "The Three Sisters". cdnrockiesdatabases.ca. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
- ^ a b "The Three Sisters". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ^ Tourism Canmore and Kananaskis. "About Canmore and Kananaskis". Archived from the original on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
- ^ "Geographic Landmarks | Rocky Mountain Nakoda". Archived from the original on 2012-08-15.
- ^ "Three Sisters Mountains". Canmore Kananaskis. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
- ^ "About Tourism Canmore Kananaskis". Canmore Kananaskis. 2019-05-16. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
- ^ "PeakFinder App - The mountains are calling!". PeakFinder. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
- ^ Will Gadd. "Three Sisters Traverse Notes". Retrieved 2017-09-13.
- ^ "ALL About the Three Sisters Mountains in Canmore, Alberta". Retrieved 2022-11-10.
- ^ "Wildlife Corridors in the Southern Canmore Region". www.stratalink.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
External links[edit]
- "The Three Sisters". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2021-07-23.