Adventure in traditional lands

Page 10

Nestled in the wilderness near the Ontario border at the town of Amos, Que., the people of the Pikogan First Nation (Abitibiwinni) welcome tourists to share for a time in the beauty of the unspoiled traditional lands of their ancestors.

Tourists flock there to camp, canoe and commune with nature the way the Algonquin people did in days gone by.

"Paddling down the Harricana River, erecting and sleeping in a tipi, listening to Algonquin stories and legends around the campfire, this is what we can promise our visitors," said Major Kistabish. The guides speak Algonquin, French and English and are enthusiastic about sharing the history of their Aboriginal ancestors with visitors.

"They share a piece of their personal background with every group."

Depending on the desire and abilities of the campers, the trip in the dense woodlands may take anywhere from a day to a week.

"We don't have a set agenda. Folks can stay out as long as they want, or are able," he said. Other activities include looking for and cooking traditional foods, and learning about ancient medicinal plants.

"They are transported from the hustle and bustle of life in their busy modern communities to a lifestyle of peaceful, unhurried subsistence activities."

One guide is assigned to each group of five visitors, enhancing the opportunities for sharing and for friendships to develop. All sleeping and cooking equipment is supplied, and guests provide only their own personal effects. Many visitors are students, but all age groups are represented.

"Our campers like to help raise the tipi and help set up camp."

The main goal of the operation is to educate and bring cultural awareness to the visitors to the area.

"The Harricana River goes through traditional trapping grounds, and nearby is the Abitibi Lake. Long ago our ancestors traveled by the river, lake and some over-land portages to summer camps by James Bay," he explained. Family groups traveled together, enjoyed established camping sites along the way.

"About 200 kilometres of this traditional journey are preserved for the visitors we welcome every year." The area is unique in that the natural lay of the land, known as the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region, has a dividing point where some rivers flow south towards the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers.

"On the other side of the division, the rivers flow northward towards James Bay and Hudson's Bay," he said.

Traditionally, the people traveled as a group throughout the region, but constraints on them meant they had to settle in one spot. In 1958, they settled along the Harricana, which translated from Algonquin means "the great way," in a spot chosen jointly by the government and the people. Soon after, the community adopted its present name of Pikogan, which means "tipi" or "Indian house."

First Nations members are frequent participants in the camping adventure.

"It's not all non-Natives, by any means," he said. The experience often helps re-establish long-forgotten roots with nature, and the relationship with Mother Earth is renewed.

"Everyone gets in touch with his or her inner self, regardless of heritage or background," said Kistabish. "It's an inevitable result that we can promise from the experience."

The Pikogan reserve is located on the west bank of the Harricana River, some three kilometres north of Amos and 60 kilometres northwest of the mining community of Val d'Or. About 400 people live on reserve, with trapping and forestry offering other important economic activities for residents.

As well, locally produced arts and crafts are available there.

"We can promise an experience that our visitors will never forget," said Kistabish. "In just a few days, they will find their lives changed forever."