Treading in our Ancestors’ Footsteps

Seated on the shores of Georgian Bay, Moose Deer Point First Nation in Ontario is strongly tied to the land and water.

This plays a critical role in the community’s economy and has shaped its values, traditions and beliefs. This terrain can be unforgiving and difficult to navigate, so in the 1960s, road access was built between village sites to connect families, make schooling more accessible, and enable mail delivery. However, while colonial road structures have made travel more convenient, the traditional pathways have been lost and forgotten.   

There is a need to restore these pathways so community members can once again walk the land, strengthen cultural ties, and reconnect with traditional ways of being. To achieve this, Moose Deer Point First Nation is launching a three-year restoration plan to revitalize trail systems. Accessible walking pathways for Elders, families, and people of all abilities will reopen, as well as longer hiking trails that take people deeper into the surrounding wild lands. Signage will be installed along the trails to recognize important places and species in both English and Anishnaabemowin, describing the people’s relationship to the land and highlighting the importance of these pathways. 

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing funding to help Moose Deer Point First Nation move to the second phase of its plan and overcome barriers it faced during the first phase. Community members were trained to carry out restoration work, but bad weather caused it to take more time and effort than anticipated. The IRF’s contribution will make the next phase smoother, allow casual labourers to be hired, and provide opportunities for Nation members to gain practical skills, confidence, and work experience to support future life paths.

Diocese of Peterborough