Hello

to start-I am not Indigenous and I   believe the First Nations should be able to use the lands they care for . This is not about that.

This is a letter written from my heart. I had met David and Ida Megan-the caretakers for that quadrant of land many years ago. I was drawn to the water site from Toronto.   David and ida treated me as family . I was allowed to stay at the site on my own. I made the offerings to the little people on the cliff when Ida could not.  She told me that the site had been used for time immemorial as a meeting place where everyone observed the peace. Ojibway,Cree,Oji-Cree and people from further north* she did not have the English word or them would all be allowed to gather the Healing water.  As someone who does not know anyone from the community, I do not know if this has been shared before,and it is a hard thing for me to do,considering  how the place was  a semi secret place.Although people from Mobert and Thunder Bay and  Nakina (that I personally saw) gathered the water from the spring. So many Elders have passed. It is a sin to put this road thru there.It would be like putting a road through Lourdes. If this is considered giving away secrets ,that is sad-because without this being said -there would be no hope for this unique place. 

Thank you, Elaine Gurney

124 16th St.

Etobicoke

M8V3K1

Cultural Heritage Value (CHV) Submission

Spring–Pond–Limestone Peace Site, North of Aroland

1. Location and Physical Description

The site is located north of Aroland First Nation within a quiet, undisturbed area of bushland. It contains three defining natural features that together form a culturally significant landscape:

• Freshwater spring — A naturally occurring spring emerging from the ground, historically used for drinking water, cleansing, and ceremonial purposes.

• Limestone cliff — A prominent limestone formation serving as a landmark and orientation point for families traveling through the region.

• Pond — A calm, sheltered waterbody functioning as a gathering place for families and visitors, with a bubbling spring .

The landscape remains largely unaltered, with no modern disturbance, industrial activity, or infrastructure. The natural integrity of the site is intact, preserving its cultural meaning and environmental character.

2. Cultural and Social Significance

Ida Megan spoke to me of the peoples that would come from all over-the Ojibway,the Cree,The Oji Cree and a people from far up north(she did not have the English name for). All people were allowed to gather the water and it was a place where no fighting was allowed. This came directly from Ida.  I do not know if any other Elder   has this information or is willing to share this,as the site has remained in an untouched pocket of Canada.

This location has long served as a traditional peace-making and meeting place for families in the region. Generations used the spring, pond, and limestone cliff as a shared gathering area where disputes were settled, relationships strengthened, and community harmony maintained.

Key cultural values include:

• Intergenerational use — Families have visited this site for decades, passing down stories, teachings, and memories associated with the land.

• Peace-making role — The site functioned as a neutral, respected place where individuals and families met to resolve conflicts and maintain social balance.

• Community continuity — Even when individuals were not formally registered band members, their families maintained cultural ties to the site, including the Megan family whose stories and teachings remain connected to this land.

The site continues to hold living cultural value, with memories, teachings, and family connections still active today.

3. Historical Context

The spring–pond–limestone area has been used for generations as a safe, neutral meeting ground. Its natural features made it a recognizable landmark for travelers moving between communities and seasonal camps.

Historically:

• The spring provided reliable drinking water and was considered a place of cleansing and renewal, with the bubbling water in the middle.

• The limestone cliff served as a navigational marker and a symbolic reminder of stability and continuity. Also I was told the Little People lived there, and I made many offerings to them.

These features together created a landscape suited for peace-making, family gatherings, and cultural exchange.

4. Community Value

The site remains deeply meaningful to families connected to Aroland and surrounding areas. Its value is expressed through:

• Living memory — Stories, teachings, and recollections continue to be shared among family members.

• Family significance — The Megan family and others maintain cultural ties to the site, including memories passed down even when individuals were not formally registered band members.

• Cultural continuity — The site’s role as a meeting place persists in community memory, reinforcing its importance as a cultural landmark.

This is not a forgotten or abandoned location — it is an active cultural site with ongoing relevance.

5. Integrity and Authenticity

The site’s cultural value is strengthened by its high integrity:

• No industrial development

• No modern disturbance

• Natural features remain intact

• Landscape retains its original character

The authenticity of the site is preserved through its unchanged physical environment and its continuing cultural meaning within families and community memory.

6. Summary of Cultural Heritage Value

The spring–pond–limestone peace site north of Aroland holds significant cultural, social, and historical value. Its role as a traditional peace-making place, its intergenerational use, and its ongoing importance to families make it a landscape of high cultural heritage significance.

It is a living cultural site, not merely historical, and its preservation is essential to maintaining community memory, cultural continuity, and respect for traditional meeting pla