The Centennial Book Committee has been interested in learning the origin of the name of our town.

We know that our seal "the cornucopia" was chosen by our first town council at its second meeting January 16, 1884. A cornucopia signifies plenty and is a horn of overflowing abundance. "Neepawa" is derived from an Indian word. To learn its meaning we wrote to Professor Bruce Sealey, researcher, UofM. The following is his reply. It is printed here as received. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did. Professor Sealey is a former resident of Arden, and attended school in Neepawa for a few years.

"As I mentioned in our telephone chat, it is almost impossible to be certain of the origin of the name Neepawa, for it is assuredly an attempt by an English speaker to pronounce and write a Cree word.

The root of the word might be NEPA, and means eating the last meal of the day. Example: Nepakawawin--supper; Nepakwawao--he provides supper by hunting.

On the other hand, the settlers might have heard Nepowewin--standing place (against the enemy) or site of a battle. The Metis of St. Lazare tell of a battle fought between the Cree and Sioux in about 1800 just east of the Riding Mountains.

The word can have nothing to do with Beautiful Plains for the Cree is (Flat land) plains--muskotowun; beautiful--meyonakosew.

The word closest to it (Neepawa) in Cree is Nipawin which means sleep. However it is not pronounced with the same cadence as words having the root NEPA.

It is most likely that the town derives its name from Nepowewin for the following reasons:

1. The similarity of the words.
2. This similarity is closer when it is known that the Cree don't stress WIN. Thus, settlers would hear the name as NE/PO/WE.
3. The battle story is recorded by the Metis and also noted in the journal of N.W. Co. trader Alexander Henry.

I'm not sure how much you know of Indian history, so don't take offense at the following if it seems elementary.

The Ojibwa(y), often known as the Saulteaux, are latecomers to Manitoba, the first group coming in 1793 under Chief Peguis (of Red River Settler fame). North of the Assiniboine River was Cree land until about 1850 when they moved north. Thus most place names north of the River are Cree.

I say all this because the Indians around Neepawa now (Rolling River Reserve and Sandy Bay) are Saulteaux and moved into the area as late as the 1870's. People not knowing this will often ask them what a word means, such as Neepawa, and they will tell them the meaning of a word that sounds something like it in Saulteaux.

In as much as Saulteaux is a different language than Cree, the information people receive could be most confusing

Yours Truly,

D.Bruce Sealey"