Helloooo,

This post is quite obviously a throwback, but it was definitely one of my favourite weekends this past summer and it was spent right in Ontario. I often find myself dreaming about traveling to other countries, but there is so much beauty right here in Ontario. People are always so excited to leave Canada to explore (I am guilty of this) but Canada is full of diverse provinces and territories. I’ve been to British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec but Ontario never ceases to amaze me. The past summer I did a lot of hiking and exploring in Ontario and this really opened my eyes to how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful province. I explored Northern Ontario one weekend in June with my boyfriend, and saw where he grew up and even where my mom & grandparents grew up, in the small town of Webbwood and Espanola.

Most of my time was spent in Manitoulin Island, where I went on a hike/explored and stopped in the town of Little Current. Also, we drove and saw a breathtaking waterfall in the town of Kagawong called Bridal Viel Falls. Also important to note, Manitoulin Island is First Nations territory as per a treaty signed back in 1836. The beauty of the island truly encompasses Indigenous peoples appreciation and love for the land.

I’m not going to get too political on y’all, but I believe it is important to always mention and it has become something that I’ve become passionate about (thank you University), is Indigenous rights and land claims. Considering Indigenous Peoples were the original settlers, I am still baffled that settlers took so much and continue to take and take. The land claims industry remains a perpetuation of Canada’s colonial policy that seeks to clear title to the land. The language in the policy has shifted over time from blanket extinguishment, to land and resource extinguishment, to defining rights completely.

The importance of land rights should always be kept in mind. As well as the fact that if you are not Indigenous, then you are a settler on THEIR land. Just as it’s important to acknowledge that Ottawa (where I live and go to school) resides on unsurrendered and unseeded Algonquin territory.

What’s the big deal?

Before University, I had little to no knowledge of Indigenous peoples past in Canada. I remember briefly learning about residential schools in history class, but definitely not enough was shared. Maybe it’s because Canada is ashamed as to how they treated Indigenous peoples in the past, so they choose not to incorporate it into children’s education? I chose to learn more, but it shouldn’t have to be a choice…

So, naturally I’m assuming that many uneducated/ignorant people would be under the impression that “it’s in the past now” and Indigenous peoples should just move on. WRONG. The effects of the process of colonization as a whole and specifically residential schools, continue to have intergenerational traumas. Due to the fact that what occurred in Canada was different then other settler colonies, in Canada the settlers made Canada their home despite Indigenous peoples being here first. Even further, they did not accept them, but tried to assimilate them and take away their culture, beliefs & traditions.

Anyways… I could rant about this all day long so, on a lighter note, see below for some pics of my time while in Manitoulin Island.