Many First Nations teachings, including those of the Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee people, use the back of a turtle’s shell as a lunar calendar.
Category: Cultural Heritage
What’s in a name? A historical look at 11 northeastern park names
Ever wonder how your favourite park got its name?
Continue reading What’s in a name? A historical look at 11 northeastern park names
What’s in a name? A historical look at four southwestern park names
Ever wonder how your favourite park got its name?
Continue reading What’s in a name? A historical look at four southwestern park names
Summer bioblitzes at Algonquin
In honour of our 125th anniversary, our oldest provincial park, Algonquin, is hosting a bioblitz series!
Join park naturalists for weekly programs where you will learn how to identify and inventory different species, as well as the importance of citizen science in protecting the biodiversity of our parks.
Then and now: vintage parks postcards
2018 marks Ontario Parks’ 125th anniversary and we’ve been digging through our archives in search of some of the coolest vintage photographs, documents, and artifacts. Throughout the year we are sharing our discoveries in a series of OP125 blog posts!
This post showcases a collection of vintage postcards featuring a few of our beautiful parks in northwestern Ontario!
The makings and teachings of the birchbark canoe
Chuck Commanda grew up part of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, an Algonquin First Nation. As a young boy, he helped his grandparents make birchbark canoes. Now, years later, Chuck enjoys sharing his knowledge and showcasing his skills to the public.
Chuck recently attended the “Politics of the Canoe” workshop in Winnipeg, where he says much of the discussion focused on reconciliation through the canoe.
“The canoe is a shared experience that all Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can relate to. That makes it an effective tool for reconciliation.”
Continue reading The makings and teachings of the birchbark canoe
Peace and reconciliation totem pole at Algonquin
In October 2015, the Algonquins of Ontario raised a totem pole overlooking Algonquin Provincial Park’s East Gate. An Algonquin elder carved it from an eastern white pine almost as old as the park.
Their gift comes with a story.
Continue reading Peace and reconciliation totem pole at Algonquin
Ojibwe Horses at Quetico
Guess what endangered animal will be mingling with visitors at Quetico Provincial Park this summer. Need a hint?
They wouldn’t say “neigh” to a selfie.
Welcome to Grey Owl country
Archie Belaney — the man many know as “Grey Owl” — dreamed of living in the wilds of Canada. Here’s how the now-famous author, public speaker and early Canadian environmentalist described the North Country:
“It is a land of shadows and hidden trails, lost rivers and unknown lakes, a region of soft-footed creatures going their noiseless ways over the carpet of moss, and there is silence, intense, absolute and all-embracing.”
The following film retraces conservationist Grey Owl’s path through the northeastern Ontario’s legendary Temagami region – n’Daki Menan Aboriginal community.
Experience the old growth forest and beauty that captured Grey Owl’s heart: