ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — October 14 marks both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the United States. The latter honors and celebrates Native Indigenous Americans in opposition of Columbus Day .
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In the Capital Region, many names of towns, bodies of water, and more have Native American origins. Here are some of those names and what they mean.
Adirondacks
According to the Visit Adirondacks website, the word “Adirondack” originated as a derogatory term given to the Algonquin tribe by the Mohawk, meaning “barkeaters.” The Adirondack Park was established in 1892 by New York State and is the largest park in the lower 48 states.
Canajoharie
According to the Canajoharie Town Historian, the name is derived from the Mohawk name “Can-a-jor-ha,” which means the “pot that washes itself.” The name comes from the creek flowing through the area with a giant pot hole at the base of the falls.