Petroglyphs popular with visitors

Page 4

Approximately 150 people gathered for the opening ceremony and a chance to view the new visiting centre at Petroglyphs Provincial Park, on Sept. 27. The Learning Place is the product of the collaboration of Curve Lake First Nation and Ontario Parks, along with financial contributions from the provincial and federal governments.

The Learning Place vividly exhibits and expresses the story of the Teaching Rocks from the Anishnaabe perspective. The centre is built on the four directions concept. Each direction winds through the building like a serpent and has its own display, such as photos, videos, or objects.

Doug Williams, a member of Curve Lake First Nation and a steering committee member, described the centre. "The entry door is the east, which is the welcoming, then to the south, to the west, then to the north, which is story telling, where you can sit and contemplate as you listen to the stories of the northern part of the serpent."

Williams said, "My consolation for this place is that I'm doing it for the kids, for my grandkids, so they'll see some of our culture." He said they will have to continue as a steering committee of Curve Lake First Nation. His personal goal is to have input into the operation of the park.

Williams said that visitors should not interfere with the traditional ceremonies at the site. First Nation peoples are free to use the site for fasting and for ceremonies, even during the off-season.

A lot of local Native artists' work was used for the exhibits. Rick Beaver, an artist from Alderville First Nation, has artwork exhibited in the centre's west direction. He said, "I hope that people will come to a better appreciation of the deep origins and connections that Native people have with this place, that they act on what they read about respect. There are a lot of teachings here by the grandfathers. They are worth listening to, for both Native and non-Native."

Petroglyphs Park contains the largest known, single concentration of Aboriginal rock carvings in Canada. It is located northeast of Peterborough, and is visited by thousands of visitors from around the world. Diane and Bruce Gray from Australia are visiting Canada for a few weeks; they heard about the Petroglyphs site and decided to visit. Diane Gray said, "The exhibit is fantastic, it's a very moving place. We'd come again."