|
|
August |
 |
|
|
|
 JOHN BURNS / MNR
Ontario Parks reports that much of the spray-painted graffiti on Maple Mountain has been concealed with granite-simulating paint. Given the extent of damage, the cleanup crew ran out. The remainder should be covered shortly. The photo, at the base of the fire tower, was taken last week by park warden John Burns before the rock was treated. |
|
First Nation upset by defiling of mountain The Temagami First Nation is upset over the graffiti on Maple Mountain, a place that is more than a hill to its members, a place that is holy.
"Maple Mountain is one of our most sacred sites.
"P
It is ironic that while the vandals were spray painting personal messages to a deceased loved one they were defiling the final resting place of the loved ones of an entire nation. Paul sees this as part of an ongoing pattern of ignorance and disrespect. "We see people take, or damage, artifacts they find on the land, but they belong to the Teme-Augama Anishnabai." He wants it to stop. "This is our homeland."
AUGUST 18, 2006 Authorities investigating Maple Mountain graffiti Ontario Parks is investigating the recent defacement of Maple Mountain with spray paint and has "good leads." Good Samaritan canoeists, who may have seen the perpetrators, alerted Parks and provided information that may lead to charges being laid. Under the Provincial Parks Act, fines for defacing a "natural object" amount to $100, but more severe restitution for damages can be sought in court. Superintendent John Salo says Parks would seek the latter if charges are laid. In addition to damages described in yesterday's Ottertooth story, a campsite on Hobart Lake, near the base of the mountain, was also spray painted by the same group, probably on August 2 or 3. The park is considering immediately covering it all up with a granite-simulating paint that is used in other parks. "We don't want to power wash as it will destroy the natural weathering of the rocks and we want to cover it quickly," says Salo.
AUGUST 17, 2006 Maple Mountain defaced
The top of Maple Mountain was defaced with
bright, fluorescent,
"It appears that a family group left it as a memorial to their mother or grandmother," said Mike Stout, a Keewaydin Camp trip leader, who saw this the first week of August. An altar, plastic flowers, a garden sculpture of butterflies and a small wooden cross were left amongst the names. An area covering roughly 120 square metres was signed with names of relatives near the base of the fire tower. As only first names were used there is no obvious clue to who did it. A large rock in the middle of the trail, about halfway up, had "MOM" sprayed on it. Maple Mountain is a sacred site to the Temagami First Nation and the summit is one of Temagami's most popular backcountry destinations. Lying within Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Wilderness Park, it is one of Ontario's highest elevations.
|
|
|
Home Rupert Battle Rupert River Temagami Che-Mun Forum Crees Camps Canoes Keewaydin Way Search About Contact Us
Maps and information herein are not intended for navigational use, and are not represented to be correct in every respect. All pages intended for reference use only, and all pages are subject to change with new information and without notice. The author/publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for use of the information on these pages. Wilderness travel and canoeing possess inherent risk. It is the sole responsibility of the paddler and outdoor traveler to determine whether he/she is qualified for these activities. Copyright © 2000-2014 Brian Back. All rights reserved. We do not endorse and are not responsible for the content of any linked document on an external site.
|
RELATED STORIES:
