Lake of the Woods Vacation Area Guide

For the better part of 25 years Paddy Reid was the defining force in the field of archaeology in Northwestern Ontario. He was the undisputed expert in the discipline of reconstructing the heritage which is an integral part of Lake of the Woods and surrounding areas.

In 1970 he left the army and entered university full time attaining his masters degree at McMaster University. In 1974 the position of resident archaeologist came open in Kenora. Reid applied for and got the position and moved to Kenora for what he thought would be a three year sojourn. Fascination with the work in this area turned three years into permanent residency.

From earliest evidenced times, this area was at the hub of the mid-continent crossroads. Because all travel was by canoe, people travelling from the Gulf of Mexico or the eastern part of the continent had to travel through this area to reach Hudson Bay or Great Slave Lake. Trading was an integral part of the cultures that inhabited North America and is evidenced by artifacts that have been found in this area. Copper from Lake Superior, marine shells from the Gulf of Mexico and volcanic glass from Mt. St. Helen’s in Washington have all been found at excavated sites in Northwestern Ontario.

“The area is very significant from an archaeological viewpoint” states Reid. “The oldest recorded site around Kenora is on Tunnel Island and dates back 7000 years. The oldest site in Northwestern Ontario are the Manitou Mounds situated on the Rainy River and is approximately 8000 years old.” He adds, “The Manitou Mounds originated with the Paleo culture shortly after the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier. It consists of 15 burial mounds and two dozen village sites yielding evidence of cultural patterns from 6000 B.C. to the present.” He goes on to say, “It is also very significant on a national scale as it is the only national historic site in northwestern Ontario.”

In the post ice age era, the oldest cultures were the Paleo Indians which date back to 7000 B.C. The next group of peoples were the archaic culture which date from 5000 B.C. to roughly 2000 B.C. These people developed the ability to work metal, primarily copper into spear points through a process of cold hammering, a significant advancement in any culture They were the forerunners to the Laurel people which predominated the area until 100 A.D. Their successors were the Blackduck and Selkirk Indians which were the antecedents to the First Nations people that inhabit the area today.

One of the most visible signs of ancient cultures are the pictograph sites which dot rocks and cliffs around many of the lakes in Northwestern Ontario including Lake of the Woods. These are forms of rock art which were painted by various aboriginal groups and are considered sacred sites. As one Ojibway elder explained to Reid, “They are visions in the quest for medicine.” They cannot be interpreted as Egyptian hieroglyphs but extensive research has been done on what they represent. Notes Reid, “One of the most comprehensive books was written by Grace Rajonovich and is titled ‘Reading Rock Art’”. Reid is not apprehensive about people visiting pictograph sites but he says, “They should first be educated how to treat them. They shouldn’t touch them as sweat from hands can instigate erosion. The sites have to be treated with respect – they are the religious shrines of the Indian people. People should leave an offering when they visit, be it tobacco or some other meaningful item.”

Other forms of rock art were also used. There are approximately seven petroglyph sites in the Kenora area. These are pictures carved into the rock. He states, “There is no real explanation why people would carve their pictures instead of paint other then it was probably a cultural difference.” “The third form of rock art is the petroform where rocks were placed in a manner to outline an image or picture. There are several examples of this type of representation in the Minaki area.” These are not to be confused with Inukshuks which dot the highways in this area. Petroforms were placed by the Indian peoples before European influence.

Location of other archaeological finds such as burial sites or village encampments are not publicized. Even though the Ontario Heritage Act… Continued on Page 53 Continued from Page 30 …provides for steep fines and possible jail terms for offences committed under the act, the possibility of looting and unauthorized excavation is always present. If someone finds evidence of such a site they are to report it to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation in order that the resident archaeologist can process the find. It is the policy of the Ministry to consult with the First Nations bands in the investigation of any archaeological sites of aboriginal origin.

When Paddy Reid retired, the Ministry was left with one archaeologist to cover Northern Ontario. That is the area from the Manitoba border to the Quebec border. Stated Reid, “Our heritage is going to suffer. We’re going to lose sites simply because the manpower doesn’t exist to excavate them.” He didn’t regret leaving public service though. He was modest when asked if he made a significant contribution to archaeology in the area. “I think so. When I got here in 1974 there were only 24 known sites. When I retired there were approximately 1200. There were over 500,000 classified artifacts in the Kenora lab which were shipped to the present office in Thunder Bay.” When asked what he considered his most significant find. He replied “The most significant thing is not what I found but what I learned. I got to know the Ojibway people and their culture.”

– Rick Vandervliet

This story is in tribute of Paddy Reid who passed away in August of 2006. Without him, the richness of our past might never have been uncovered.