In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation we are posting a couple of interesting personal intersections our firm has had with Indigenous culture in Canada over 2024.
IGGAAK: Saw these great snow goggles at the Centre Archeo Topo while away on Quebec’s North Shore. They are a type of eyewear traditionally used by the Innu peoples to prevent snow blindness. These were made of bone but these goggles have also been also made from driftwood. Low tech, effective and sustainable! Archeaological work in the area has found evidence of hunting and trading in the area dating back 5,000 to 8,000 years ago.
CHI-CHEEMAUN: This passenger and vehicle ferry runs from Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island from May to October. A ferry service has been in place since the 1930’s, and this latest ship has been active since 1974. Literally translated, “chi-cheemaun” means “big canoe” in Ojibwe. The boat (which is owned by Owen Sound Transportation Company) got a refresh in 2017 with large decals designed in the Woodland style of Indigenous art, a style founded by Manitoulin artist Norval Morrisseau.
Manitoulin Island includes Wiikwemkoong, one of the largest unceded territories in Ontario which has been designated as one of several Cultural Capitals of Canada.