A ceremony will be held later this month to formally recognize the cultural significance of a tree near the river at the Harrison Park campground.
The City of Owen Sound and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) Environment Office will host the Marker Tree dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. on April 22. The date was selected to coincide with Earth Day. The tree being honoured is a 150-to-200-year-old sugar maple bent to a distinctive angle when it was a sapling.
The living artifact was shaped by Anishinaabek peoples to serve as a navigational guide. In Anishinaabemowin, marker trees are known as Ganawaajichigani-mitigoog.
“Marker trees are a living connection to Anishinaabek history, land-based knowledge, and cultural continuity," said Lenore Keeshig, SON Elder and knowledge holder. "Protecting these vivifacts helps ensure the past, present and future for the Anishinaabek.”
Late last year, the SON Environment Office asked the city to help restore and protect the historic tree, which was showing signs of stress. That led to restoration efforts to help stabilize the tree and support its long-term health, alongside the installation of interpretive signage to share its story with the public.
"This marker tree is a powerful reminder that Harrison Park is not only a place of recreation, but a place of deep history and meaning,” said Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy. “We are grateful to the Saugeen Ojibway Nation for sharing their knowledge and for working with the city to protect this living artifact. Honouring and caring for this tree is an important step in recognizing the stories of this land and our shared responsibility to preserve them for future generations.”
The dedication ceremony will begin with an Indigenous ceremonial fire, followed by drumming from members of the M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre, a teaching from Keeshig, and the unveiling of the interpretive plaque.
The event is open to the public.
