Snake Mound South Entrance Barricade March 19, 2011. Photo Taiaiako'n Historical Preservation Society Toronto's High Park, located near the edge of Lake Ontario, is home to more than four dozen Haudenosaunee burial mounds, some of which could date back 3000 years, making them older than Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Today, some of those burial mounds are being casually desecrated with the implicit sanction of Toronto's City Council.
Roughly 4,200 kilometres away from Vallejo, California, where Indigenous Peoples have gathered to prevent a sacred burial ground from being converted into a public park, members of the Haudenosaunee Nation are speaking out against the continued desecration of burial mounds within Toronto's largest park area.
"The territory that is now known as High Park was home to an Iroquoian people known as the Erie/Neutrals , ancestral to Meadowood Complex, who, over the course of the Woodland Period (1000 bce – 1614 ce) built earthwork mounds for honouring and burying their dead," explains the Taiaiako'n Historical Preservation Society (THPS).
"The Six Nations are the custodians of the burial mounds... When John Howard bequeathed the park to the city [in the 1800's] he also provided the condition that the Six Nations would continue their custodian role over their sacred sites. It is their duty to maintain the mounds and connection with the ancestors for future generations." Led by Rastia'ta'non:ha from the Seneca Wolf Clan, THPS was founded to carry out this duty.
Unlike Glen Cove, which has not yet been desecrated, for years the burial mounds in High Park have been stepped on, dug out, driven over with bikes and just simply ignored.
THPS says that "No fewer than fifty-seven such mounds have been identified, and yet they are generally overlooked and unknown. Worst yet, these significant archaeological sites are being desecrated by some. One site, Snake (or Serpent) Mound, has been almost totally destroyed due to off-road BMX enthusiasts, who have actually dug up the mounds and installed ramps to make a dirt jumping course at the south-eastern corner of the park."
An off road bike jump course at the on the Snake/Serpent Mound. Photo THPS
"Determined efforts to reason with the perpetrators have so far proven unproductive, and repeated attempts to engage the Park Board and City Hall to intercede on this issue have been met with puzzling indifference," THPS adds.
The City Council continues to ignore valid archaeological evidence along with historical facts and claims by the Haudenosaunee. They have also refused to apply any of their own by-laws concerning the construction of ramps (video) and use of bicycles within the park and dismissed requests (pdf) from the High Park Community Advisory Council (HPCAC) to meet with their representatives. Among other concerns, the government has also used apparently unlicensed archaeological consultants.
Despite the veritable stone wall they've been pushing against to secure the ancient mounds, THPS clearly has no intention of giving up. In fact, after ten years of diligence, their effort is finally getting public support. Most recently, on April 18, THPS held a public event with Friends of Snake Mound welcoming Onondaga Chief Chief Arnie General and a group of Clanmothers and Faithkeepers to discuss the issue. They are also now preparing for a public gathering at Snake Mound on May 1, 2011 to answer questions and discuss a strategy specifically for Snake Mound.
Everyone Welcome to our first Snake Mound Gathering of the Spring/Summer season
For background and more information, please visit Taiaiakoo'n Historical Preservation Society website at http://taiaiakon.wordpress.com; or contact THPS
T a i a i a k o ' n H i s t o r i c a l P r e s e r v a t i o n S o c i e t y
410-223 Jackson St. W., Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 4R4
905-522-5717 - ogetgwiaotahioni@cogeco.ca - attention: Rastia’ta’non:ha
Website: http://taiaiakon.wordpress.com/
Tell the City of Toronto to Do it's Job!
Mayor Rob Ford
E-mail: mayor_ford@toronto.ca
Mail: Office of the Mayor - Toronto City Hall, 2nd Floor, 100 Queen St. West, Toronto ON M5H 2N2
Phone: 416-397-FORD (3673)
Councillor Sarah Doucette
City Hall
E-mail: councillor_doucette@toronto.ca
Mail: 100 Queen Street West, Suite C46, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Phone: 416-392-4072
Fax: 416-696-3667
Councillor Gord Perks
City Hall
E-mail: councillor_perks@toronto.ca
Mail: 100 Queen Street West, Suite A14, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Phone: 416-392-7919
Fax: 416-392-0398
For By-law/Municipal Code inquiries, please contact (Unconfirmed):
12th floor, West Tower, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2 Fax: 416-392-2980
Gil Golka ggolka@toronto.ca
Sylvia Alfano salfano@toronto.ca
Karen Lunn klunn@toronto.ca
416-392-4364 416-392-0552 416-392-6665
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indenigious people have suffered enough this is a disgrace and needs to stop
I drive by highpark and see this almost everyday, I had no idea they were ancient Indian buriel grounds. It is now very shameful to think that kids are BMXing all over them. How would you like some one doing that over your grave? I say over my deadbody. I may be white but I have a soul I will try to be there to raise awareness to this. Goes to show ignorance is bliss.
Please consider making a decision about the matter of the burial grounds of Indigenous peoples at High Park, Toronto as though it were your own family and heritage. It would only be the right thing to do if the Indigenous peoples approved of your decision.
It’s a difficult jo being a politician in any climate, your position isn’t envied. Please make us proud that you were elected. Thank you.
Hey folks. I just got an update from Rastia’ta’non:ha. It reads:
**Recent Development on May 1st event: This event is still going forward in a peaceful way and no “occupation” action will be taking place. We have received word from Kim Turner, aboriginal liaison, for the Toronto City Police 11 Div., that the City of Toronto is now willing to sit down and talk to us and consult with us on the removal of the illegal bike jumps at the Snake Mound, and the rehabilitation of the site. **
[...] making them older than the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Today, some of those burial mounds are being casually desecrated with the implicit sanction of Toronto’s City Council.On April 21st, Chinese forces arrested [...]
Here is a letter I sent to the mayor city councillors and the city By-Law folks. I am posting it because I thought you might want to use as a template for your own letter. Peace, Nan.
Dear Councillor Gord Perks:
I urge you to take action to stop the desecration of the Iroquois burial grounds in High Park known as the Snake Mound. Please apply the city’s by-laws concerning the construction of ramps and use of bicycles within the park and stop this historical, cultural and sacred site from being destroyed by the use of BMX bikes and ramps. As a Toronto west end resident, a frequent visitor to High Park, and as a professional who works in the High Park area, I feel a great personal connection to the park and it’s heritage.
The Six Nations are the custodians of the burial mounds that are being desecrated. When John Howard bequeathed the park to the city [in the 1800's] he also provided the condition that the Six Nations would continue their custodian role over their sacred sites. According to the Taiaiako’n Historical Preservation Society (THPS) the territory that is now known as High Park was home to an Iroquoian people known as the Erie/Neutrals , ancestral to Meadowood Complex, who, over the course of the Woodland Period (1000 bce – 1614 ce) built earthwork mounds for honouring and burying their dead.
For years the burial mounds in High Park have been stepped on, dug out, driven over with bikes and just simply ignored. This is unacceptable. One site, Snake (or Serpent) Mound, has been almost totally destroyed due to off road BMX enthusiasts, who have actually dug up the mounds and installed ramps to make a dirt jumping course at the south eastern corner of the park.
Although I am not an indigenous person, I come from a long line of Canadian ancestry and I believe that we will regret contributing to the destruction of First Nation’s culture and archeology. This is one incident within the matrix of a long history of the colonization, assimilation, and genocide of First Nation’s people. I believe we can take just, right, and respectful action to protect, not harm, these sacred burial grounds. The Prime Minister recently apologized, in the spirit of regret and reconciliation, for the harm and violence perpetuated by the existence of residential schools. Let us not regret yet another decision that hurts the cultural fabric of First Nation’s peoples. By defiling their most sacred burial ground, we are threatening some of the precious remaining urban history of a people who deserve respect and honour, and an important part of Canadian history and archeology. Please take action, in the name of respect for the Indigenous and First people’s of this land, to help save the Serpent Mound.
Sincerely,
your name
[...] Desecration of Haudenosaunee Burial Mounds sanctioned by City Council [...]
Looks like the City just did a black flip. According to the latest update from Rastia’ta’non:ha,
“The City and Park officials have finally agreed to work with Taiaiko’n Historic Preservation Society on the restoration of Snake Mound.”
You can find the full details at http://taiaiakon.wordpress.com/recent-activities/
I knew that white man that new mayor was racist he and whatever leader in power in Ontario,they have will be dealt with in a way fitting for these leaders.
Intervention is underway for those mounts as we speak.