For most of its length, the creek now travels in buried pipes, but in the centre of the block bounded by Mississaga, Douglas, Mary and O’Brien streets, it emerges into the open air, trickling through a small ravine before entering another pipe and disappearing.
“It runs clear all year round,” said Irvine, who works in the city’s parks and recreation department.
In the four years he’s lived beside the creek, Irvine has never dug down very far anywhere in the yard.
“I’d like to get a team in here and root around,” he says.
“That stuff fascinates me. You never know what you’d find.”
The urge to satisfy curiosity is a double-edged sword, says Gloria Taylor, curator of the Orillia Museum of Art and History.
While the careful and respectful exploration of historic native settlements can yield valuable historical information, there is a risk sites can be ransacked by novelty seekers.
And often it has been the wish of First Nations that burial grounds be left undisturbed.
So the location of many archaeological sites has been kept under wraps somewhat, said Taylor.
“The province didn’t want places identified too closely for fear of grave-robbing.”
But the protective secrecy can result in communities such as those in the old west ward of Orillia living in total ignorance of the history literally lying under their feet.
There needs to be better communication between the province where archaeological finds are registered and municipalities where many of these sites are found, says Taylor.
Craig Metcalf, director of the city’s culture and recreation department, was not aware of the Mount Slaven site, but knows the area is dotted with the sites of former aboriginal villages, primarily along creeks.
“Where there’s water, there’s generally a hot spot.”
Recently attention has been focused on Orchard Point, where a developer wanting to build condominiums is being required to conduct an archaeological assessment of the property.
“Orchard Point is an area rich in archaeology,” said Metcalf.
In light of the limited information on file at the city, the Municipal Heritage Committee is recommending the city undertake an archaeological master plan, said Metcalf.
Such a plan, cataloguing sites of archaeological interest, would be a valuable planning tool in both established neighborhoods and areas of new development, alerting prospective developers of new projects and homeowners planning extensions or other work that might disturb the soil, said Metcalf.
“The Mount Slaven site could make sense as part of the overall mapping.”
Council will discuss undertaking an archaeological master plan at the city’s pre-budget meetings next month.
Taylor thinks further research into the Mount Slaven site and others within city limits could provide the material for historic plaques and a walking tour.
“People love historic signs. It makes them think about the history of the land. It helps kids understand where they belong.”
The Packet & Times was unable to get comment from Chippewas of Rama First Nation for these stories.
cmckim@orilliapacket.comArticle ID# 1226597
