The Snake Indian River was named after a small tribe of indigenous people, referred to as the Snakes, who resided around Jasper House in the 19th century.

Jasper House is beautifully situated on an open plain, about six miles in extent, within the first range of the mountains. As the valley makes a bend above and below, it appears to be completely encircled by mountains, which rise from 4,000 to 5,000 feet, with bold craggy outlines; the little group of buildings which form the ” fort ” have been constructed, in keeping with their picturesque situation, after the Swiss style, with overhanging roofs and trellised porticos. The dwelling-house and two stores form three sides of a square, and these, with a little detached hut, form the whole of this remote establishment. The general direction of the valley of the Athabasca through the mountains seems to be a from south to north, with a very little easting. Four miles below the fort the Athabasca receives a large tributary from the W.N.W., which is known either as the Assineboine or the Snake Indian River. Opposite to the fort, from the opposite direction, comes Rocky River, and these two streams, with the Athabasca, define four great mountain masses.

There was once a little tribe of Indians known as the Snakes, that lived in the country to the north of Jasper House, but which, during the time of the North West Fur Company, was treacherously exterminated by the Assineboines. They were invited to a peace feast by the latter Indians, when they were to settle all their disputes, and neither party was to bring any weapons. It was held about three miles below the present site of Jasper House, but the Assineboines being all secretly armed, fell on the poor Snakes in the midst of the revelry, and killed them all. Such was the story I heard from the hunters here.

— James Hector [1834–1907] 1859, in Palliser papers

In Indigenous cultures, the term snake is a generic pejorative used to describe other tribes, regardless of their actual ancestry, hence the many locations in Alberta where a number of different tribes lived, all of whom, although unrelated, were called “Snakes.” From 1688-1720s, when the British Empire first came into prolonged trade contact with the Western Cree and Blackfoot, both of these groups were united in a war against “the Snake Indians” of Canada. It is not clear if this term (used in this period of Canadian history) is meant to refer to the Northern Paiute people, inaccurate, or perhaps entirely unrelated. In modern Plains Cree language, the term “kinêpikoyiniwak / ᑭᓀᐱᑯᔨᓂᐘᐠ,” literally translating to “Snake Indian” refers to Shoshone people.

Baptiste Millette, an employee of the fur-trading North West Company, was the namesake of Roche Miette and other “Miette” place names in the vicinity.

The Miette was called “Cow Dung River” by Hudson’s Bay Company governor George Simpson [1792–1860], who crossed the Athabasca Pass in 1824:

“Our route is about due West through defiles in the Mountains; the track for Cranberry Lake takes a Northerly direction by Cow Dung River which falls into the Main Stream at Henrys House.”(1)

Fur-trader George McDougall [1788–1849] crossed the pass in 1827. His journal has been lost, but a copy of doubtful authenticity (2) reproduced in Yellowhead Pass and its People (3) states,

May First — On this day we came to the winter house of William Henry, having had nothing to eat for two days. My people were exhausted, and but for coming upon fresh snow-shoe tracks at the Miette River, which gave them courage to struggle on we might have all perished. (4)

This name appears on B.C. Surveyor General Joseph Trutch’s 1871 map.

Location approximater. Flows south into Canoe River south of Valemount. Possibly Dave Henry Creek, Yellowjacket Creek, Horse Creek.

No previous local name; recent community involvement in construction of campsite and picnic area here suggested that a name was desirable. Various suggestions were made by Dunster residents before they agreed with the 4-H Club proposal to name the creek and facilities for the abundance of “diamond” willow trees (Salix plenifolia, ssp pulchra) in the area.

Adopted in 2019 as required by water licensing. Because no traditional or local name was brought forward, “Dunster Creek” was chosen because the stream flows through the community of Dunster.

Origin of the name unknown.