Culture & Heritage

For a  “Learning Vacation” or “Sight-seeing Adventure” ,
come to Northwestern Ontario
Discover our History, Heritage & Culture.



The exciting past of our region can be traced back nearly 11,000 years to the time of the Paleo-Indians. Although there are no written records, many of the stone tools they made, such as spear points and axe heads, provide valuable clues about life in the early days following the glaciers. Other artefacts from the Old Copper Indians who inhabited the region 4,000 to 5,000 years ago have also been discovered.



Many First Nations peoples were thriving here prior to the coming of the Europeans, however written accounts begin at the time of European trappers, traders, explorers, and missionaries. First Nations peoples spoke a wide variety of languages and grouped into several tribes or language families.



The diversity of food sources, as well as good water routes to travel on and vast forests for shelter, enabled this region’s aboriginal peoples to thrive and often quarrel over its wealth of resources. Trade routes were already established and stretched west to the Pacific Ocean, north to the tundra, east into the Great Lakes and south down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, before the voyageurs even reached the Americas.



An Ojibway legend portrays that the Ojibway Peoples first encounter with the Europeans came in a dream. “Men of strange appearance have come across the great water in wonderfully large canoes, which have great white wings. They have long sharp knives, and long black tubes that they point at birds and animals, and from them comes fire, noise and a smoke that rises into the air. The legend tells us that the chief sent out a fleet of canoes along the Great Lakes that travelled to the east side of Lake Superior to a clearing where “the largest trees had been cut down quite smoothly.” They met the strangers and took back souvenirs of wood shavings, pieces of wood cut with sharp tools and gaily coloured cloth to show their people.”

 



The first Europeans arrived in the 17th century, with French Fur Traders arriving in the late 1600’s. Both the Hudson Bay Company and the Northwest Company were active in fur trading. The First Nations people’s knowledge of navigable water routes and wilderness survival was crucial to the development of the fur trade. In 1670 The Hudson’s Bay Company was granted a British Royal Charter to conduct the Indian Trade in the territory whose rivers drain into Hudson Bay. This area includes much of what is now Northern Ontario.



Northwestern Ontario’s history was changed in the 1870's with the coming of the railway. By the middle of the 19th century the fur trade boom had long since faded and mining became one of the region's most important industries, along with agricultural development. Subsequent economic developments included the iron and steel industries and the making of pulp and paper.



Northwestern Ontario also became known as an area of flourishing tourism related businesses as people from across the continent flocked here to take advantage of the region's superb fishing, hunting and recreational opportunities. Just as the earliest inhabitants depended upon the bounty of the land and the water, today’s sportsmen will find the area still teeming with fish and wildlife.



Today’s First Nations People no longer live in TeePees nor travel around and follow the herds of animals. The Bison (Buffalo) that were sought after for many things including food, fur and hides for clothing and shelters, no longer roam freely in the prairies. Lives had changed by the coming of “civilization” to Northwestern Ontario.



First Nations people, who are predominantly Ojibway in Northwestern Ontario, now work in a variety of occupations and many also live outside their ancestor's homes or reserves. Nevertheless, the traditional cultures of their ancestors, shaped by nature, still exert a strong influence on their culture, spirituality and political attitudes, which they still keep alive in today’s world.



Although that early era is gone, there are many Cultural & Heritage Museums today that provide you with an idea of the adventures and hardships of the voyageurs coming to Canada, as well as our First Nations connection to the land and animals that they depended on for survival.

 

Old Fort William

Thunder Bay has recreated Old Fort William, the magnificent inland headquarters of the North West Company of Montreal on Lake Superior.

The fort is as it appeared in 1815 when it was the centre of the Canadian fur trading economy.

There are over 42 historic buildings on the 20 acre site. As you pass through various areas and buildings, you meet an assortment of Ojibway Natives, Scottish gentlemen, French Canadian voyageurs, craftsmen and farm labourers. You can stop to watch the Ojibway work among the wigwams or you may come across Company gentlemen in their top hats and long coats. The voyageurs can easily be spotted; they're the ones in the bright shirts and wide colourful sashes.

 

Native Interpretive Centre



Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre, near Stratton, gives you a true taste of our First Nations History and Culture. Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung is the word in the Ojibway language for “Place of the Long Rapids”, where it is located on the Rainy River. It is also called "Manitou Mounds", as this site has ancient Burial Mounds that are of great spiritual significance to the local First Nations people. Some of the oldest burial mounds in North America are found here, along with 8,000 years of Anishnaabe history. You can have a guided or unguided tour of the Interpretive Centre, the Fish Hatchery, the Round House and the burial Mounds. Visit the Gift Shop and purchase local Aboriginal arts and crafts or stop and eat some authentic Ojibway meals at their river view restaurant. Traditional craft demonstrations, Aboriginal games, archaeology workshops and a delicious fish fry are held at different times throughout the year. You can even spend the night at KayNahChiWahNung!



There are many other centers and celebrations that depict life in the past, including The Red Lake Woodland Arts Festival in Red Lake, the Assabaska Ojibway Heritage Park between Rainy River & Morson and many Pow-Wows held throughout the summer months in various First Nations communities.



Pow-Wow’s are a time for getting together to join in singing, dancing, drumming, visiting, sharing of food and preserving a rich heritage. Dancing has evolved around the imitation of animals and the re-enactments of brave deeds that were performed. The Original songs are in the native languages of the singers. Come Visit their Pow-Wows and join us in celebrating and preserving their culture. Everyone is welcome.

 


Lake Tours on the MS Kenora or with other tourism related businesses, remind us that our lakes and rivers were once main trade routes. Viewing sacred pictographs and rock paintings along the way help you envision the First Nation’s culture. Rock art is generally divided in two categories: carving sites (petroglyphs) and paintings sites (pictographs).

Pictographs are paintings that were made by applying red ochre or black, white or yellow dye.

Petroglyphs are carvings that are engraved or ground in by means of stone tools upon cliff walls, boulders and flat bedrock surfaces.

To name a few areas, there are Pictographs on the east shore of Darky Lake in Quetico Park; Petroglyphs on Agnes Lake in Quetico Park; and Pictographs that can be viewed from a boat in the channel between Painted Rock Island and Splitrock Island on Lake of the Woods, Morson area.

 



Come visit us in Northwestern Ontario 
for a Cultural & Heritage Learning Vacation, or add some
sight-seeing to your fishing, hunting or family vacation.

 



Northwestern Ontario is one of North America’s premier outdoor destinations known for the best in holiday adventures, including fishing, hunting, outdoor adventures, ecotourism as well as cultural and heritage attractions.

 


We boast a well-developed service infrastructure for people that love to experience nature and adventure. These services include drive-in or boat-in resorts, fly-in outpost camps, charter air services, hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, houseboat operators, canoe outfitters plus retail and service businesses that will meet all your vacation needs. Use any of our accommodations as a base for your Learning Vacation. Please visit each website and choose which member offers the House keeping or American Plan Package that suits your needs. Also view our “Communities” section to find other Attractions, Festivals, Events and Cultural or Historical related items that might interest you.

 

 



Whether you're looking for a “Learning Vacation” or “Sight-seeing Adventure” involving the History, Heritage & Culture of our region, you’ll discover it here in



Northwestern Ontario – Canada’s Outdoor Destination

 

 

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