Port Royal, Nova Scotia, October 20015

 The French constructed a "Habitation" at the mouth of the Annapolis Basin in 1605. The fort was mainly used as a trading post for pelts with the local Mi'kmaq people. The fort was raided and destroyed by English raiders from Virginia in October 1613. The 30 or so French settlers were not at the Fort when the raiders came and there was  no loss of life. The fort was, however, destroyed. The settlers were supported through the winter by the Mi'kmaq people. The settlement was subsequently established at the current site of Annapolis Royal.

In the early 1940s, Parks Canada built a replica of the Habitation -- the first reconstruction undertaken by Parks Canada.

Entrance

Courtyard

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Looking to the Annapolis river

Looking to the Annapolis river and Bay of Fundy

Boyd's Cove Beothuk Interpretation Center, Newfoundland, September 2015

On the road from Lewisporte to Twillingate is the Beothuk Interpretation Center. This is the site of a major settlement of the Beothuk people. The beothuk were a First Nations people who lived in Newfoundland for perhaps a couple of thousand years prior to Cabot's discovery in 1497. Following deaths that came from European diseases such as TB and from violent interactions with settlers, the last of the Beothuks died in 1827. A very sad story indeed. Archaeologists from Memorial University in St John's discovered the site in 1981 after extended surveys looking for likely sites. Sure enough, this was a very active site in the 1600s as subsequent work of the archaeologists demonstrated. The province has preserved the area and built a well imagined interpretation center. 

A recent development is to build a spirit garden near the cove. The rangers provide shells, cloth and twigs for visitors to attach to the trees at the spirit garden. They believe this was close to Beothuk spiritual practice. I left a remembrance for my deceased parents. I am not a spiritual person but could certainly feel the power at the garden.  

The center

Inside the center

Spirit Garden

Spirit Garden

Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatoon, Canada Day

We visited the Wanuskewin First Nations Heritage Park, just north of Saskatoon on Canada Day (July 1). The park is on the site of a traditional buffalo jump. There are steep cliffs over which the buffalo would be sent to their deaths. An excellent park where we spent some considerable time, including very much enjoying a pow wow dance by Jason Thunderbird.

The architecture reflects the ti pi.

The steep cliff close to the center.

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The entrance to the center

Tipi structures on the entrance road

Jason undertaking the pow wow dance.

National Aboriginal Day, Edmonton, June 21

National Aboriginal Day was celebrated at Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton. Interesting to learn some of the history of the First Nations peoples in Edmonton and Alberta and take in the performances.

Drum group welcoming the spirits

Arrival of the Eagle Staff with local elders

Arrival of the Eagle Staff with local elders

Inter-tribal dancing