ABSTRACT

     In September 2002, the Mnjikaning Fish Fence Circle launched an exciting new educational video “Journey to the Fish Weirs” at the annual gathering of the Simcoe County Historical Association in Orillia, Ontario. By bringing together First Nations people, historians, archaeologists, environmentalists and elected officials to celebrate the importance of an ancient and sacred place, this educational initiative did indeed bridge cultural divides. Ontario’s newly appointed Lieutenant Governor, himself a person of Aboriginal heritage, set the tone for the day’s celebrations.

INTRODUCTION

     Residents of Ontario are familiar with “Casino Rama”, the native-run casino located near Orillia in central Ontario. The Biblical name, “Rama”, was chosen by a surveyor to designate lands to be set aside for the native people of this area many years ago, and they have been known as the Chippewas of Rama for over one hundred years. More recently the community has renamed itself the “Chippewas of the Mnjikaning First Nation”, returning to their own language for inspiration. “Mnjikaning” is an Ojibway word meaning “the place of the fish fence”. As the paper shows, “the place of the fish fence” is more than a place where a wooden fish weir exists, Mnjikaning is in fact, a sacred place.