Ancient Paddle Trees Keep on Giving Foresters could learn a trick from Ojibway and Cree of northern Ontario, who could strip lumber from a tree and leave it growing. Near Nagagamisis Lake, not far west of where the Missinaibi River canoe route crosses Highway 11, stands a rare cluster of living cedar and jack pine trees scarred where planks of wood were


Rare find: Living tree with paddle plank removed


removed to make canoe paddles, canoe frames and other implements up to 400 years ago. The “culturally modified trees” (CMTs), identified by archeologists in 2000–2001, are unlike anything else in Canada east of B.C. Many date to the early 1900s when the feds prohibited tree felling without a permit—planks were stripped on the sly, facing away from the lake so the government Indian agent wouldn’t notice. Now, the trees are again providing an alter- native to logging. The Nagagamisis Plateau has been chosen for protection as one of nine signa- ture sites under Ontario’s Living Legacy Strategy. Sustainable economic development will come in the form of a $10 million tourism com- plex to be constructed this year by the Constance Lake First Nation. The Eagle’s Earth Cree and Ojibway Historical Centre will open in July 2005, showcasing the area’s native culture and archeological sites dating back 7,000 years. Plans include a museum and authentic pre-con- tact native village, reenactments and demos of traditional skills, teepees for accommodation and more. Including, of course, visits to the shores of Nagagamisis for homage to the pad- dle-producing trees—standing to serve up a second harvest, this time of tourism. 


www.bellcanoe.com or 763-856-2231 2004 Annual 7


photo by John Pollock


Chris Greenbeck


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