Work is set to begin on the renewal of the Saugeen First Nation amphitheatre area.
Drystone walls, walking paths, gathering areas and gardens are some of the things planned, and the First Nation says the renewal will have a focus on the restoration of indigenous plant knowledge and medicines.
The amphitheatre site is not just a gathering place, but a historical landmark. The First Nation says, during the 15th century, the Three Fires Confederacy (the Saugeen Ojibway Nation) defended it against European encroachment. Treaty 72, or the Midnight Treaty, was signed at the site in 1854. Saugeen First Nation says it resulted in the surrender of 500,000 acres of their land. They note, the area also has Indigenous burial sites.
The gardens called the Gzhe-Mnidoo Gi-Ta-Gaan (Saugeen First Nation Creators Garden) will be designed around an interpretation of the Seven Grandfather Teachings.
In partnership with the Skills and Partnership Fund of Canada, Saugeen First Nation has signed on for a three-year collaboration with the Saugeen Shores based Backyard Boys Landscape Construction Inc. Through that partnership, six young men from Saugeen First Nation will gain hours toward their masonry certification to Ontario standards. This will be the first job site.
It’s anticipated the work will be done by the fall. It will include an accessible ramp down to the river bank area where a large part of the landscaping and gardens will be created.
Beyond that, the goal is to build more walking trails along the Saugeen River. The community is fundraising for some of that eventual work.
The scope of the work may include the demolition of the remains of the Wesley United Church that was destroyed in a fire in 2020. That could happen in the coming weeks. The intention is to rebuild the church and funds are being raised to enable that including a rubber duck race set for this Saturday at the creek off of Bruce Road 13. You can buy tickets at the Saugeen Gas Bar.
A launch event to mark the start of work was held Thursday at the site. It was attended by those who would be doing the work as well as, local representatives and community members. Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie, Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff, and Pat O’Connor, Constituency Manager for Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb.
Chief Conrad Ritchie says “I think the most important part of it is building community.” He adds, “Saugeen’s been here. It’s always going to be here and everything else that’s around us– and I think it’s time to really break down those barriers to build community, build safety for our young people because they look to us as leaders— to how are we going to build, how are we going to nurture that spirit of reconciliation or the spirit of community.”
He adds, “Nowadays a lot of people sort of operate in isolation, or function from isolation or separation or segregation. Isolation is what breeds sickness. As human beings, we’re wired for connection and I think the more we do things like this, and work together and collaborate together and we put all our energies into this, and then people will feel that. That spirit that went into this.”
Ritchie says, “I think this is just the start of it.” He describes the presence of representatives and dignitaries from neighbouring communities and the federal government at the event, as “A big thing to acknowledge as well.”
Ritchie says, “At one time, we never met. There was one time we didn’t perhaps trust each other but times are different now, and this is what our young people need to see more of and this is what society needs to see more of. People coming together in that way to build things and lay a pathway. It’s like laying a blueprint for our young people to follow and maybe in the future, they’ll make that even better.”
Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau says, of the amphitheatre and garden project, “It’s going to be really great to see it revitalized,” He adds, it will be a significant place, with the Seven Grandfather Teachings, and an accessible and welcoming place for people to come together. He says, “It’s already one of the most beautiful places on earth already.” Charbonneau adds, “To see the partnership develop between the Backyard Boys, a great company from Saugeen Shores and the folks here at the First Nation who have done so much work already in building this place. Again, it’s about building community and building partnership.”
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff agreed, noting, “This is all about building community, unity, getting ourselves back in together as a greater community and celebrating something that I think an incredible part of the First Nation’s History here at Saugeen,” he adds,”It’s going to be a treasured part of Saugeen First Nation and the greater community across the area.”
Drystone, an ancient style of building walls and structures without mortar, features in the amphitheatre area. Chief Ritchie explains its importance, saying, “Some people will look at it as a rock. For Indigenous people, they would refer to that as a grandfather. The ones that were here before us, and watched everything since the beginning of time and they’re still here and they’ll still be here long after we’re gone.”
The garden to be built will emphasize plant medicine and also land-based learning through interpretation and storytelling.
Chief Ritchie notes, “A lot of the time, a lot of our children are raised in a system that takes them away from having a connection to everything. When a man is away from nature, his heart can become cold. When his heart becomes cold, he starts to lose respect for the land, for the water, for the air. Once they start to lose respect for that, they start to eventually lose respect for each other. So that’s how important it is to remind people of where they come from and that also, all people had a connection to it at one time.”
