Golfing in Ktunaxa Country

Golf a round and save a language—Ktunaxa words at St. Eugene

There is a new, exciting challenge at the Les Furber-designed St. Eugene. Golfers can now pronounce a Ktunaxa word at each hole. The rustic wooden signs show the layout of each hole and give the yardage—but the interesting twist is that the names of these holes are written in Ktunaxa. First the name is given using the phonetic symbols, and in brackets there is a spelling for English-speaking golfers to pronounce. The English translation is given underneath. Ktunaxa is not traditionally a written language, but in the late 1970s, steps had to be taken to record the language that was critically endangered. The Ktunaxa Nation has been striving to preserve their language and pass it on to their children by creating a book of Ktunaxa words. Having these signs on the golf course is an opportunity to share the language with more people—and also increase awareness of the challenges the Nation faces in preserving their language. “If you look at the history of our people or the condition of our language today—I could be the last of the fluent speakers,” said Dorothy Alpine, a Ktunaxa elder and language expert. “If we don't do what we can to preserve what we know and hopefully pass it on to the younger generation, this language is going to be extinct. I get a special kind of good feeling when I hear people trying to speak it. On the course, with the phonetic spellings, people who don't understand can at least try and say the words. We are in Ktunaxa country and I want people to know that.”