The Beaver Hills were noted as early as 1809 by explorer David Thompson. According to P-NofA (1928), these hills were called Kaghghik-staki-etoma in the Blackfoot language, A-misk-wa-chi in Cree, and in the Stoney, Chabahei, all meaning “beaver hills.” That the hills have long been known to all of these groups indicates their historical importance.