Waaseyaa Cultural Tours

08/14/2024

Today’s hike highlights: jewelweed, dogbane, a beautiful colony of wood sorrel, blackberries, and dwarf elder!

What’s your favourite plant that’s in all its glory right now?

08/12/2024

Incredible collaboration between knowledge keeper Creators Garden - Joseph Pitawanakwat and the brilliant artist Emily Kewageshig

08/01/2024

Join us tomorrow morning, Friday, August 2, 2024 at 9am at the Lookout Trail in Algonquin Park for an Algonquin Peoples' History Guided Hike.

This 2hr hike shares an understanding of the living history of the Madaoueskarini Algonquin People, intertwined with a general scope of Indigenous history across what is now known as Canada. This experience offers an understanding of the impacts of colonial settlement on unceded Algonquin territory and the continued impacts on land and people.

Note that all participants must register prior to tomorrow's hike. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/algonquin-peoples-history-guided-hike-tickets-969050906347?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Discounted rate for Indigenous, diverse, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.
Please contact us directly for the community discount code.

A few things to keep in mind...
- All ages welcome!
- Pre-registration is required for all participants.
- Park permits and parking charges are not included.
- Sturdy footwear required. Please dress appropriate for the weather.
- We love dogs! Dogs are welcome, though they must be well behaved and on leash at all times.
- Liability waivers are required for all participants. Participants under the age of 18 require guardian consent.
- Note that any negative or derogatory behaviour will not be tolerated.

06/09/2024

Fireside along the Madawaska with the best mug from

06/07/2024

Turtle time!

Little babies are on the move and mamas are laying their eggs.

Always, always keep an eye out for turtles when you’re driving. If you see a turtle on the road, please move it off of the road, always in the direction it’s heading.

06/02/2024

411 years ago this week, Samuel de Champlain was awestruck by the shimmering curtain of the Rideau Falls as he travelled up the Ottawa River by canoe, in early June 1613.

“There is a river (the Rideau River) at the mouth of which is a marvelous fall... the Algonquins (amuse themselves) by passing under (the Rideau Falls) and not wetting themselves, except for the spray” observed Champlain on his first journey up the Ottawa.

Champlain described the then unrestrained Rideau Falls as descending “a height of twenty or twenty-five fathoms with such impetuosity that it makes an arch nearly four hundred paces abroad”.

Champlain wrote of the Rideau River cascading into the Ottawa River from the south as well as another splendid river converging on the Ottawa from the north — the Gatineau River.

Beyond the Rideau Falls, Champlain made note of high cliffs along the south side of the Ottawa (today’s Kìwekì/Nepean Point and Parliament Hill) and commented on the unmistakable roar of Chaudière Falls further upriver.

Champlain reported that the rushing noise from the Chaudière Falls could be heard a full “two leagues” away and observed that Indigenous people had aptly named the tumultuous waters the Asticou, which he learned meant boiling pot.

Champlain’s journals further report that his party had to portage around the Chaudière Falls — and then of seeing the rise of the Gatineau Hills to the north.

This was Champlain’s first journey up the Ottawa River — not the first European to ascend the iconic waterway, but the first such voyage to have been documented — May 27 to June 17, 1613.

As any of us today could have forewarned Champlain, it is the time of year when mosquitoes and black flies are at their most rampant.

Champlain wrote of “surviving” the assaults of the “mosquitoes which annoyed us greatly” whose “persistency” was beyond description.

Champlain had set out from Montréal at the end of May, being told the “great river” (translated from the Algonquin “Kichi Sibi”) would lead his expedition to the famous “north sea” (Hudson Bay).

His travelling party consisted of Nicolas de Vignau (the young interpreter who had lived among the Algonquin and had misleadingly convinced Champlain of easy access to Hudson Bay via the Ottawa River) plus an additional interpreter, two other Frenchmen and an Indigenous guide.

An additional Indigenous guide joined the group along the way.

The many rapids made for hard paddling, numerous portages and sometimes the need to drag their canoes through the turbulent waters.

At one point, Champlain fell between two rocks. “I cried aloud to God... and began to pull my canoe toward me, when it was sent back to me by an eddy as such occurs in these rapids... I nearly lost my life”.

Samuel de Champlain and his party did not make it past Alumette Island (near Pembroke) on this trip, and the famous explorer is said to have lost his trusty Astrolabe during a detour along the way.

Champlain’s three-week 600 kilometre journey was his first up the Ottawa River. He would return two years later and this time travel all the way to Georgian Bay. This route would be repeated by numerous explorers and fur traders in the years to come, the main “highway” to the west.

Today, with the traditional oral history of First Nations such as the Algonquin interrupted by the arrival of Europeans, observations recorded by Champlain, such as regarding the gatherings and to***co ceremonies at the Chaudiere Falls, have come to play an important role in Indigenous historians' efforts to reconstruct that history.

Champlain is remembered as the “Father” of New France and an ally to the Huron and Algonquin. Some consider Champlain’s enlightened vision for New France to be reflective of many of the best of the values we hold in Canada today.

Samuel de Champlain had grown up during the bitter and deadly Catholic-Protestant wars of late 1500s France and was determined to establish a New France where both religious groups could co-exist in harmony.

Champlain had also, as a young man, travelled to the West Indies and observed the brutal and inhumane treatment of the Spanish toward the Indigenous peoples there.

It is said that Champlain tried to treat Canada’s First Nations people with a level of respect absent in the approach of earlier explorers such as Jacques Cartier and Henry Hudson.

The Iroquois, against whom Champlain joined, may not have agreed with this assessment.

As well, if the Algonquin and Huron of the day had known what the establishment of a few small European settlements would lead to over time, they would undoubtedly have extended far less hospitality and been more wary of any such alliances.

An interesting book to explore Samuel de Champlain’s life and legacy is “Champlain’s Dream” written in 2008 by Pulitzer Prize winning author David Hackett Fischer.

For a weighing of the varied perspectives on Champlain’s impact and motives, you may want to visit this link to Ontario Heritage Trust:

https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/en/pages/our-stories/exhibits/samuel-de-champlain/champlain-through-the-eyes-of-north-americans

Image: Champlain on Georgian Bay
John David Kelly 1895-1900
McCord Museum, Montreal
M993.154.314
_______________________________________
Note: Margaret Ahearn, as early president of our Society (1903-1915), was instrumental in having the statue of Champlain erected at Nepean Point.

05/31/2024

Moccasin Flower or Pink Lady’s Slipper

These late spring orchid can live 30 to 50 years and grow up to 4ft tall! Their roots are used to treat anxiety, tooth pain, and muscle spasms, as well as insomnia.

Keep an eye out - they seem to be abundant right now!

05/31/2024

🛶🩷 Canadian Canoe Museum

This is a roughwater birch bark Mi'kmaq canoe.

Do you see the handprints etched on the bow of this birch bark canoe?

Those hands represent the people that helped make it.

It was built by Todd and Melissa Labrador and their family in 2022 after being commissioned by the Canadian Canoe Museum.

This canoe is made with all organic material, from the sheets of birch bark that form the canvas of the craft to the spruce root and gum that are used to lash and seal the seams together.

The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ont. is home to the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks and watercraft with almost 600 crafts on display.

From birch bark to dugout canoes, skin-on-frame kayaks and more modern cedar strip canoes - All of them have a story to share and a connection to culture and workmanship.

05/22/2024

Chi-miigwetch to Heidi Csernak for spending time out on the land and geeking out about plants with us. And for writing this wonderful article about our time together.

All are welcome to join our tours, which are geared to your interests and agility levels.

We’re soon launching our new booking tool but in the mean time, please reach out to us directly.

Hope to spend some time out on the land with you soon!

Join Local Wanderer Heidi Csernak and Algonquin guide Christine Luckasavitch, Indigenous owner of Waaseyaa Cultural Tours, for a Medicinal Plant Walk on Unceded Algonquin Territory.

05/18/2024

Moose jam!

It’s super exciting to see a moose when you come to Algonquin and right now is the perfect time. For many, it’s their very first time seeing moose. Actually, every time we see a moose it’s still really exciting.

But it’s also very, very dangerous to pull your car over on the side of Highway 60 without being fully off the road. Not only is it a concern for your own well-being but also the safety of every other car on the highway.

Please pull over safely, all the way off the road. Keep in mind that even though it cuts through the “wilderness” that is Algonquin Park, it’s still a major highway. Be safe out there, folks!

05/10/2024

We spent the last few days in Michi Saagig territory near Nogojiwanong (“the place at the end of the rapids”), now also known as Peterborough, Ontario, celebrating the ways that the canoe connects us all - but that’s a story for another day.

In modern terms, this area is covered by the Great Lakes-St Lawrence Forest Region, which lies between the deciduous Carolinian Forest to the south and the coniferous Boreal Forest to the north - often referred to as “the land between.” And this means that there are often tree, plant, and animal species that we don’t have just a few hours north…. Such as Mayapples!

We’ve never seen these beautiful plants before in person, so driving along the north shore of Rice Lake we absolutely had to pull over and visit with these plant relatives.

Mayapples grow in colonies and are quite toxic - though once the fruit has ripened, it is edible for humans and animals (in small quantities!).

Mayapples contain podophyllotoxin, an active ingredient in anti-cancer and anti-wart treatments. It is used as a purgative, emetic, “liver cleanser”, and worm excellent, also used to treat jaundice, constipation, hepatitis, fevers and syphilis.

05/07/2024

Did you know……

Trilliums are a very slow-growing spring ephemeral. It can take two years for a seed to fully germinate and up to ten years to grow to the size where they bloom.

Enjoy these early spring blossoms! Here for a limited time only! 😉

05/04/2024

Check out this incredible photo by our friends at Follow Me North from their recent trip to South Africa. This is pure magic!

On our recent journey through South Africa, we encountered many remarkable birds, but one truly captivated us all—the Lilac-Breasted Roller.

This bird flaunts a dazzling array of eight colours: green, white, black, yellow, turquoise, dark blue, reddish-brown, and lilac. It’s also fascinating that both males and females share this stunning appearance, making it a challenge to distinguish between the two.

One moment, in particular, took our breath away: spotting this roller perched perfectly in front of a rainbow, almost as if it was recharging its colours after the recent rainfall. Truly beautiful!

Thanks to our guide’s skillful positioning, we managed to capture this magical scene just seconds before the roller took flight.

Jesse & Susan -

05/03/2024

Bruised? There's a plant for that! Growing Pains? There's a plant for that! Taviss meets up with Joe Pitawanakwat, a plant educator from Wikwemikong Unceded ...

05/03/2024

Today’s Medicinal Plant Walk brought us out to a stunning lookout over a stretch of the Madaoueskasibi.

One of the best parts of these guided hikes are geeking out with each other and sharing the plant knowledge we hold. And one of the most important parts of these guided hikes is sharing stories of our love and connection with the land and more-than-human beings we visit along the trail.

Photos 1-2 - Liverleaf hepatica! First time we’ve seen this locally.
Photo 3 - A friend we made, a Greenhouse Millipede
Photo 4 - Pipsissewa
Photo 5 - Trailing Arbutus (Canada Mayflower)
Photo 6 - Early Pseudosaxifrage
Photo 7 - The first toad we’ve seen this spring!
Photo 8 - Looking out over a stretch of the Madawaska River

04/30/2024

Holy smokes this is a stunning canoe!

04/29/2024

Mashkiigobag/oon
(swamp [strength of the earth] leaf/leaves)
Swamp tea / Labrador Tea
Ledum groenlandicum Oeder

04/29/2024

🎒🗑️🛶
LET’S KEEP ALGONQUIN PARK CLEAN
Join us by doing your part and receive a FREE decal...

Algonquin Outfitters is proud to introduce its “PACK IT OUT” initiative, promoting responsible outdoor ethics. The goal is to maintain cleanliness and safety in the backcountry, ensuring the best experience for all Algonquin Park visitors.

Participants are encouraged to “Pack Out” any litter or waste they encounter during their trip in Algonquin Park’s backcountry, whether left behind by previous visitors or generated by their party.

Every entry receives an exclusive, three-inch “2024 PACK IT OUT” decal(while quantities last, one entry per participant) and will be entered in our prize draw when you follow the steps below.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Snap a photo of yourself with collected trash(bagged or not) and share it on social media using the hashtag .
Visit our dedicated webpage to complete the simple online form, provide your contact info plus an Instagram or Facebook post URL link and we will mail you your free decal.

https://algonquinoutfitters.com/packitout/