Explore Manitoulin Island meaning ‘Spirit Island’ and also Mnidoo Mnising. Four seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, bugs and all. Much to do during all seasons! Heads up there are a lot of links!! 🙂 There is also this write up:
The current name of the island is the English version, via French, of the Ottawa or Ojibwe name Manidoowaaling (ᒪᓂᑝᐙᓕᓐᒃ), which means “cave of the spirit”. It was named for an underwater cave where a powerful spirit is said to live. [source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoulin_Island]
Manitoulin Island is the largest fresh water island in Ontario and in the world. Its legs are planted in one of the great lakes of Canada, Lake Huron.
The area spans 2,766 km squared or 1,068 square miles. It is an island with 108 lakes and no motors allowed on Nameless Lake.
How you venture to this island is either via the ferry, the MS Chi-cheemaun, or the 100+ year old swing bridge by Little Current. Have your own boat? Travel by boat from Canada or the United States of America. Perhaps you are sailing up the St. Lawrence River from other countries. The five Great Lakes flow out via the Saint Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean.
Hawberries are found on Manitoulin Island and here is a good introduction. The people that are born on the island are known as ‘Haweaters’ and every Summer they have a Haweater festival. Most births are now off island as the local hospitals send them to Sudbury. There is only one midwife on the island and there needs to be two in order to do home births. Have you heard of ‘wild births’? This is where mother and father are delivering the baby at home and on their own. Nature in all its glory to embrace this. A grand idea for the family and baby (babies). Of course something could happen. There is a conference in London, Ontario where education and connection presents itself. Reclaiming Birth Conference
Wild Celery, Bog on Manitoulin Acres
Why am I writing about Manitoulin Island? For the past year, I have spent half the time on the island with a desire to spend more time in nature: meditating, gardening, foraging, teaching, and learning just about anything that rolls on my path from tanning animal hides to burning wood for my only source of heat. Perhaps a community will evolve with just the right women and men who also desire to be more self sufficient and to connect with nature. It just so happens it is on a beautiful farm (with no farm animals of my own yet). I am currently renting the pasture to a local farmer, known to I as Farmer Harold. This farm is near Gore Bay. It is a gem with 102 acres, a natural spring, pastures, forest, woods, bog, wild herbs, vegetables and fruits, plus an orchard and more.
The island is host to many living forces like woods, lakes, sky, and camp fires…but not a volcano. It has plenty of dear Deer but no Moose on the loose. Birds abundant even at the farm as I stumbled upon a Woodcock in the woods sitting on her eggs near the farm house. Dandelions in the thousands on the farm, and the early flowers that feed the bees and insects so the cutting of the grass waits for other blooms to appear. The yellow blossoms make a wonderful drink!
Six Anishinaabe Reserves
The six Anishinaabe Reserves are M’Chigeeng (nearest to the farm), Sheguiandah, Sheshegwaning, Aundeck Omni Kaning, Wiikwemkoong and Zhiibaahaasing.
This is not a feature, it is a reality and to be valued about Manitoulin Island. Let’s celebrate the native people who have wisdoms, and on the island, they share this and their culture. I look forward to exploring this side of Manitoulin Island more in god time.
The many natives across North America and other places as well such as South America and Australia, to mention only two, know their land. Natives and my association with seal oil (since 2008) conjures up the knowledge of the wise ones or elders (vs western wisdom) and the doings of those that thought they knew what was best. Little did they know or did they know what they were doing? I could mention that many peoples have been the victims of those people who thought best with a twist of dysfunctional thinking. Somehow religion and politics (still people) are at the core. Leaders in those areas is more like it. Many followed them thinking they were doing what was best. Is it true that some of the Inuit people left the modernized villages to venture into nature to live without the heavy hand of the government?
Amish Community
Along with the natives, Amish farms spot the island, sell their wares and operate businesses such as lumber mills. Like farmers of any nature, they are resourceful.
While travelling to Tobermory via the ferry to visit my good friend there, Dana and her husband Doug, I spied a dozen Amish waiting to go aboard ship. It is written that they do not welcome modern technology. But, I did spot a women outside the information centre (South Bay Mouth, Manitoulin ferry terminal) on a cell phone. I swear on my grand mother’s grave (mother still alive and kicking).
Just another flavour on the Manitoulin Island.
Although, I could not find any information on Irish descent on Manitoulin, it is clear from the last names of those on the island that there are descendants of Irish, Scottish and English.
One fellow that I met last year told me that he (or his son) was the eighth generation on Manitoulin Island, the precise time when other people (other than natives) were welcomed to settle there.
Healthy Manitoulin Island
Like any place, it has a lot going on from six native reserves (unceded) to 108 lakes within its shore. Even heard of a lake that has an island within it. Much to learn about this peaceful island where many have either returned to or laid their roots to raise their kiddos. Some are homesteading while others are crafting their arts from painting to making baskets.
Let’s get the lay of the land and more to explore below. Scattered across Manitoulin are farms, hunt camps, tiny to medium towns, shorelines, woods, breathtaking views, wild animals in and out of towns, trails, ancient sites, Haweater’s, land dwellers, and let’s include the expansive tourists/part time dwellers that visit in the nice weather season (May through October).
Yes there are those that are living off grid. Know some myself. Met others in the process.
The charm of Manitoulin at night is the Dark Sky where the island has minimized light pollution and the stars are many and bright on a clear night. Truly spectacular and for all ages. Meteors anyone? Perhaps an UFO siting?!
The escarpment trails under lake Huron only to reappear on the island. The views are spectacular.
What’s Doing on Manitoulin Island
There is much to do on Manitoulin Island:
- Hiking/walking trails such as Cup and Saucer
- Culture and cultural events such as PowWows
- Festivals
- Chocolate factories such as Finnia Chocolate & Cacao
- Sacred sites
- Archaeological site such as Sheguiandah, and info, and story American Antiquity, The First Sheguiandah Expedition
- Dining such as Watersedge Pub & Restaurant in Gore Bay and indigenous food options
- Arts and crafts such as Lillian’s Crafts Art Gallery
- Fishing and derbies (ice or other) – does it send shivers up your spine?
- Water sports and play from sailing and boating to swimming and kayaking
- Beaches such as Providence Bay Beach and more
- Cafes such as the Peace Cafe
- Music from drums to bands but did the famous Canadian pianist Glenn Gould draw inspiration from Manitoulin Island?
- Parks and lakes of which there are 108 lakes and how about an island in a lake (Manitou) on an island (Manitoulin Island) in a lake (Huron) and there is a pond on one of these inner islands
- Nature reserves for nature lovers such as Young Lake Bird’s Sanctuary (Meldrum Bay, west island)and bird reserve McLaughlin Alvar and Robertson-Carter Bay reserve
- Dark Sky adventures! Star gazing and view the Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis
- Islands around Manitoulin Island’s shores such as Henry Island, Strawberry Island and Fanny Island
- Rich flora that has been thoroughly studied
- Chilling and relaxing
If you keep exploring, you find many guides such as Explore Manitoulin and other blogs that include Manitoulin Island such as Maya Maceka.
Sheguiandah archaeological site is worth a further mention here. How would you like to visit a historic site that is twice as old as the Stonehedge and the Giza pyramids of Egypt? The site may not have impressive structures. Older than which reminds me of the age of the few mounds and hundreds of Dolmens located in hills and fields of Ireland – should you travel there, do explore. I have yet to visit Stonehedge but I can vouch for the rest. Will soon visit the Manitoulin Island historic sites.
The writing of this article allowed me to once again dive into Manitoulin Island’s rich and beautiful identity, still to be discovered by many.
My wish is for Manitoulin Island to be all that it can be to the many that make it their home with room for growth and community, and for those who visit as it guests.
In joy your day your way!
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