0°
0°
Waterton History & Heritage
The area we now call Waterton Lakes National Park has a long history with nomadic Indigenous peoples who first arrived here after the last glacial retreat, more than 10,000 years ago. They followed herds of migrating bison and would camp, hunt and gather plants along the waterways here.
approx. 8000 BC
The area we now call Waterton Lakes National Park has a long history with Indigenous peoples who first arrived here after the last glacial retreat, more than 10,000 years ago. In these rich valleys, Indigenous peoples, including Niitsitapii (Blackfoot) and K’tunaxa peoples, hunted bison and collected plants for food and medicine.
1858
The first Europeans visited the area. Lieutenant Thomas Blakiston was a member of the Palliser Expedition, tasked by the learned Royal Geographical Society of England with discovering a route through the mountains to the Pacific coast. On a scouting expedition, Blakiston came across the three large lakes here and named them “Waterton” as a tribute to Sir Charles Waterton, a well-known naturalist.
1865-1911
John George “Kootenai” (long hair) Brown arrived in 1865. Years later, he returned here to hunt, fish, trade, guide and ranch. In 1911, he became Waterton’s first Park Superintendent and was a key player in the evolution of the park’s conservation policies.
1932
Waterton Lakes National Park, along with the Glacier National Park in Montana, United States became the world’s first International Peace Park.
1995
Recognizing its significance in ecological diversity and its model of cooperation and good will, our Peace Park was also officially designated a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.