Walk on the tame side

Yes, hubby had a meeting at the band office in Wahta Mohawk Territory. I decided to drive with him, and walk along highway #38. he could pick me up on the way home. I figured I could stop when I was tired, or walk back. There is a lot of traffic on #38.

The vistas are beautiful. From a long history of poverty and a meagre existence in fall of 1881, our Wahta Mohawks have a beautiful band office, and the farms that dot the highway are wonderful, nestled in with the bogs, trees, and flourishing Native operations.

I gave up trying to photograph the birds, but spotted two red-tailed hawks, a pair of vultures, and various flora and little other fauna. At one point I could hear a rooster crowing!

The trillium are out, as are the tent caterpillars.

Little tiny ones in the heat of the roadside, not yet the voracious adults they will come to be.

The snakes and turtles like to cross the road, to keep us on our toes! Hence the signage.

The puppies cheered me on my way. Sort of a limited fan club!

I love the United Church. Well-cared for grounds, a beautiful sign, with trillium and brightly coloured daffodils. Delightful building.


It was a good hike. About an hour and a half. The blackflies weren't bad, as there was a brisk wind in 20 degrees temperatures on the road. In the rock cuts, where the wind was less, the flies swarmed me.

They are not biting me yet, perhaps not yet egg laying time.
It is chilly in the open at night, down to -3 in open spots, where the airport weather information is gathered in Gravenhurst.

But by the lake, the temperatures are tempered by the lake itself. The lake has temperature inertia, and has kept us up above zero for the most part. I have put my large (5') plants out on the deck, tucked into the balcony, and they have lost a few leaves, but I haven't brought them in yet. Just too much effort.

Wahta Reserve

Wahta Mohawks, a rural First Nations community located in Bala, originated in Oka, Quebec and settled in the Muskoka region in 1881. As early as 1450, they managed to get along. Longhouses contained  several clans, as living in a group strengthened the individuals. Originally called the Gibson Reserve, they now are called Wahta, the Mohawk word for the sugar maple.

This reserve was established in 1881. Protestant Mohawks moved from their original home in Oka, Quebec after issues regarding religious, civil and economic differences with the Catholics. An agreement was reached with Catholic Priests whereby the Protestant group of the Oka community would move to the Muskoka district in the spring of 1882; the people instead chose to move in the fall of 1881.

They arrived in October, just in time for winter. Conditions were harsh, some have since moved from the reserve, but others have prospered and established a fabulous community. Their administration building is one which resembles the traditional longhouse.

First Nations in Muskoka

The earliest recorded Indian habitation of our province is 6,000 to 7,000 BC, on Manitoulin Island. As I read about Port Hope, I understood how tribes and nations practiced their dance.

The Six Nations is a confederacy, or league of nations, comprised of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca an Tuscarora nations. Each nation speaks its own dialect of the same language group. 

The word, 'Wahta', is Mohawk (see this language guide) for sugar maple, the trees that cover this territory. First named the Gibson Reserve, from Gibson Lake where the people originally settled, the Mohawk word, Wahta,  reflects more of the culture and traditions of the people.

Aside from their brilliant regalia, their language, culture and traditions, I most admire the deep respect and their powerful connection with nature. You can spot it, as you drive through the reserve and see these wonderful signs! If only our highway travellers WOULD slow for the snakes and turtles.

In Bala, with a phenomenal Band administration building, programs are run by families with names that go back many years, to the original founders of Wahta in 1881.

With a history of abuse and racist attitudes, those who have taken children away to residential schools should bow their heads in shame.

Sid Commandant, 79: `Rough and tumble' leader

Long ago, the people settled in this area, in winter, when the climate was inhospitable. Wahta has their own cranberry bog, as well as a water bottling plant. The people have worked hard to create a viable community. It is with deep respect that I present these photos.

It was with pleasure that we joined them in their Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph. It was a privilege to stand, as a guest, on this land and share our grief over lives lost and the soldiers who served.
For more information, an excellent historical document exists, available from the Band (wahta.ca), that includes first person stories of the original Wahta band members.

Climate Change

The proper term is "Climate Change", rather than Global Warming, since the weather can go either way!

I don't like the unpredictable nature of it. You get your brain around morning temperatures of 6+, and in mid-September a.m. it is 18 C.! Today, we are sinking into a cold spell.

The dry weather we have had is symptomatic of the whole thing. That and the buckets of rain in July!

I fear for our planet. I just hope our young people are getting the message big business and polluters have not taken in for the many years we have spoken about this concept. I taught environmental issues in my elementary classes, and I know our young people 'get it' for the most part.

We must look after our environment, starting at home. The plant needs to be helped one ecosystem, one biodome at a time.

We went to Coldwater for the horse show.
We drove through the Wahta Territory

Wahta Territory is a small Mohawk community located in the Muskoka region of central Ontario, Canada. The Wahta Mohawks Administration building is located at Muskoka Rd. 38 and Highway 400 and is the centre of many community activities. The wooden, longhouse styled building and the rustic locale, make this a beautiful place all year round.

Passing their marvellous signs.

'Please brake for snakes'
It is important to slow down in such areas. You can see the marshes that line the roads, with the gorgeous trees in the background.


The firebush at the Coldwater Recreation Centre was amazing, reminding us to watch for fire, too! Fall is here, with about 60% of the leaves turned.

Native People

I was watching The Agenda while working out. It was rather interesting.

The Debate: Aboriginals and The Economy
So often we hear debates over historical issues: susceptibility to disease (lately, H1N1), about whites invading territories, relegating First Nations to reserves. Treaty rights that have been abused. The social issues that First Nations face in terms of water, poverty, addictions, and living conditions. One of the favourite books that illustrates the rascism of our past: Raisin Wine, click the link for my book review.

We hear about the issues First Nations face, and seldom the important developments, like healing circles, Aboriginal Sentencing Circles, the respect for the earth, decision making by consensus, matriarchal governments, the IAF, the great growth in the type and quality of First Nations Educational programs. Of course, this relates to the lack of media attention in Central and Northern Ontario.

Many Aboriginal communities have created work. Wahta, a Bala First Nation community, are strong founding people who work in trades and run a fabulous community centre. I bought the book they published about the history of their reserve, which is a difficult story to read, but one which must be read.

Wahta Mohawks They have two big businesses: bottled water and cranberries.

Programs that operate from the office include Governance, Employment and Training, Housing, Health, Education, Children's services and Library. The Wahta Mohawks own and operate Ontario's largest cranberry farm. The Iroquois Cranberry Growers have 68 acres of cranberries and also produces cranberry products including juice and sauces.

Wahta Springs :: The Purest Source of Water Wahta Springs (Wahta meaning 'sugar maple') is located in Muskoka, Ontario, atop the Precambrian Shield. Dotted with lakes and rocky outcrops.

Wahta land claim settled - Parry Sound The settlement of a land claim dating back to 1918 was announced by Chief Blaine Commandant of the Wahta Mohawks, the Minister of Indian Affairs.

The statistics:

Average income of Canadians, $35,501. Average income of aboriginal people: $23,935.
The first figure is the approximate income of those in Muskoka, which in turn is about $15,000 less than the province average of $50,000.

I wonder about the statistics. I know that those in Northern Ontario have different issues than those in central and southern climes. And I am not sure that you can compare them. We need to respect the differences, recognize them, and work together to find an understanding of the way to move forward together.

Finding food is different in the norht. Many around here (Central Ontario) hunt and fish and fill their freezers. Yet finding milk is a more difficult and expensive prospect. Some communities are fly-in only in winter. Some rely on ice bridges, which are having difficulties with Climate Change since the ice freezes later and is less stable.

What most interested me about this program was "Adele", who is the Manager of Aboriginal Affairs for Musselwhite mine in northern Ontario. As a fly-in, fly-out underground mining operation located 500km north of Thunder Bay, it is remote. The only way in, efficiently, is by air. My brother works there and he flies to Hamilton, to Thunder Bay, to the Lake Opapimiskan airport (see the red A!). The mine is a 7-8 hour drive (480 km N as the crow flies) from Thunder Bay. They are difficult working conditions. Two weeks in, 12-hour shifts, and two weeks home. Rather difficult building a family life around this schedule.

To get to my point, what I wanted to laud is their Impact Benefit Agreement of 1992. It is one of the first in Canada. It is an agreement that the mine will work with local First Nations groups. They agree to respect traditional knowledge, facilitate inspections and monitoring of the mine, and offer employment, training and revenue sharing with First nations. Let us hope that things are changing, as First Nations are learning more about themselves and redefining themselves.

There are about 40 Impact Benefit Agreements (IBA) currently signed in the province. There are opportunities for First Nations and 15,000 jobs available in the mining field.
Anyone potentially affected by the mine development would attend the IBA consultations, including:

• Chiefs or mayors;
• Band councils and band members;
• Aboriginal community organizations;
• Renewable resource boards/committees;
• Aboriginal land corporations;
• Local and regional governments;
• Community members;
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs); and
• Media.

The full kit is here:

Mining Information Kit for Aboriginal Communities: MINE DEVELOPMENT

The future is brighter than that which history attests foreshadows, and I hope that things will change.