Tkaronto

Tkaronto is a Mohawk word that roughly translates to "the place in the water where trees are standing." It refers to a specific area within the present-day city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Historically, it denoted a strategic location on the Humber River where the river narrows and allows for easy crossing or trapping of fish, marked by tree trunks that may have been placed or naturally occurred there.

Tkaronto was an important trading post and meeting place for Indigenous peoples long before European colonization. It served as a key portage point between Lake Ontario and the upper Great Lakes. The name "Toronto" is believed to be derived from "Tkaronto" through various transliterations and misinterpretations by European settlers.

Today, Tkaronto is used as an Indigenous place name for the city of Toronto, serving as a reminder of the area's Indigenous history and connection to the land. Its use represents a reclamation of Indigenous language and a recognition of the First Peoples of the area. Many Indigenous organizations and individuals use Tkaronto to acknowledge the original inhabitants and their relationship with the territory now occupied by the city.