Three northern Ont. communities to run provincial park
The Ontario government has announced a partnership with three northern Ontario communities to operate a provincial park near Elliot Lake.
The goal of the partnership is to include the history of the park’s long-standing Indigenous heritage.
In a statement, Chief Bob Chiblow of Mississauga First Nation said those who visit the park will “gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the Anishinaabe culture when they leave.”
Chief Brent Bissaillon of Serpent River First Nation said there are a number of historical sites in the park.
“We’re looking increasing the awareness and the awareness of the Indigenous communities that live in those areas and the history behind that,” said Bissaillon.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The partnership is through the Mississagi Park Foundation, which includes the City of Elliot Lake, Mississauga First Nation and Serpent River First Nation.
On Tuesday, leaders from each group gathered at the Mississagi Cultural Centre to honour the partnership with a traditional pipe ceremony.
Bissaillon said the moment was meaningful.
“The province came forward and they brought their staff and various other people so it was beautiful,” he said.
“People came down from Elliot Lake, too, so it was special. This does mean a lot to Indigenous people and the people of Elliot Lake, too.”
Mississagi Provincial Park, formally established in 1965, was previously run by the City of Elliot Lake. The city’s acting mayor, Andrew Wannan, said the park is important to the community.
Wannan said sharing the responsibility of the park is an essential part of ongoing cooperation among the communities. He said the park is an essential piece of the puzzle to boost tourism in the north.
“I’m hopeful for other communities to maybe look at and get inspiration from this process,” Wannan said.
David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, said he hopes future generations will learn about the park’s history.
“I think this is exciting for us as a province and exciting for the many girls and boys, next generation, who will go and visit,” Piccini said.
“Learn from the teachings of the foundation, the Indigenous leadership in this pristine 12,000 acres of wilderness.”
Bissaillon said while discussions are ongoing, the goal is to include signs, medicine trails and more information about the park’s history.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Feds hope to table foreign interference legislation next week: LeBlanc
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to table legislation this week to help the federal government address foreign interference, but he wouldn't say whether the proposal will include a foreign agent registry.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.