Nemiskam National Park

Nemiskam National Park was created north of the former community of Nemiskam^[1] in south central Alberta, Canada, in 1922. The park was closed and delisted in 1947. The first Park Superintendent was Edgar McHugh.^[2] Nemiskam is a First Nations word meaning "between two valleys", referring to the Chin Coulee and Etzikom Coulee on either side of the former community.

History

Beginning in 1914, a large portion of the 139 km² (54 sq mi) of land^[3] that would later form Nemiskam National Park was designated the Nemiskam National Antelope Reserve^[2], to protect Pronghorn (often referred to as antelope). The area was one of many pronghorn reserves created in Alberta and Saskatchewan at that time.

Nemiskam National Park was one of several national parks created in the Canadian Prairies expressly to protect and regenerate dangerously low populations of bison and Pronghorn. Other 'regeneration' parks, also delisted in 1947, included Buffalo National Park and Wawaskesy National Park (both in Alberta) and Menissawok National Park in Saskatchewan.

With the rebound of pronghorn herds in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, Nemiskam was closed in 1947 and the land was returned to general use.

References

1. ^ http://www.albertasource.ca/Placenames/resources/displaycontent.php?source_id=1532
2. ^ ^{a b} Burns, Robert J. (2000). Guardians of the wild: a history of the warden service of Canada's national parks. University of Calgary Press. p. 159. http://books.google.com/books?id=gM3pGa9ezJYC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=nemiskam+national+park&source=bl&ots=UgmenhHIL5&sig=WWADWdYGd35-eeEdPwqjqKwtIw8&hl=en&ei=JssTTarZD4imnAenzu3ODQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCsQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=nemiskam%20national%20park&f=false. Retrieved 2010-12-23. 
3. ^ Fish and Wildlife Conservation in Alberta 1905-2005. The Fish and Wildlife Historical Society and the Federation of Alberta Naturalists. Vovember 2005. p. 82. http://books.google.com/books?id=FILek0eGahUC&pg=PT101&lpg=PT101&dq=nemiskam+national+park&source=bl&ots=qmG1HQLMTA&sig=WFxJkxfGZiOVX8dglCPBDeiuPT4&hl=en&ei=Ts8TTcKrGYXQnAeUtcDFDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBEQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=nemiskam%20national%20park&f=false. Retrieved 2010-12-23.