OUR
RESOURCE PERSONNEL

Aboriginal Guide/Interpreter, resident in the Cree community of Stanley Mission, familiar with northern legends and lifeways will be on board to assist with guiding and cultural interpretation.

Tim Jones is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society and author of Aboriginal Rock Paintings of the Churchill River. Tim will direct the research and interpretive activities at the Rock Art Camp.

Cliff Speer is a certified canoeing instructor who has been conducting wilderness touring programs with CanoeSki Discovery Company since 1989. Cliff will be managing the program, guiding and instructing.

Spirit of the North Land - Archaeology Program Background & Attractions - By Cliff Speer

Exploring Archaeological Frontiers

Northern Saskatchewan is an archaeological frontier. Relatively little research has been done in the vast boreal ecozone that covers most of the northern half of the province.

Except for isolated pockets where highways, mine sites or other development proposals have necessitated archaeological surveys, the bulk of the area is unexplored. It is exciting to be part of making new discoveries and pushing back this knowledge frontier, realizing at the same time that there is much we do not or will never know about the human history of the north. However, the work that has been done in the Churchill River Upland Ecoregion, the area where the Rock Art Camp is held, suggests that it was first inhabited about 8000 years ago after the retreat of the last glacier some 9000 years ago. Two thousand or so archaeological sites have been located in the larger Subarctic boreal forest of Saskatchewan. These sites attest to a long prehistoric period of successful adaptation by hunting and gathering peoples living in nomadic bands. Archaeological work, cultural anthropological research and oral history have all provided clues to the successive cultures of these early peoples. All of these clues inter-relate because there is much continuity between certain cultural traditions of modern Indian people and those of their ancestors of long, long ago.

The long prehistoric period of human history in Saskatchewan's north lasted until about 1620, when, to the best of our knowledge, a small trickle of European trade goods reached the Chipewyan (Dene) people who then lived in the region. But, the first historical documentation of these early inhabitants didn't occur until over a century later with the Samuel Hearne expedition of 1769. Hearne was moving inland on the Churchill River from Hudson's Bay to establish fur trading posts for the Hudson's Bay Co. The Churchill at that time formed the boundary between the Cree-speaking people to the south and the Dene-speaking Chipewyan people to the north. Gradually the Cree pushed the Dene further north, well beyond the Churchill throughout the late 1700's.

Mysterious Works of Art

Depending on the actual age of the rock paintings in the region north of the Churchill River, the authorship of the "writings on the rocks"could be the Cree or the Dene people, or possibly the ancient ancestors of either First Nation.

However, most of the evidence to date points to ancestral Cree origins for most of the paintings. More intriguing still is the question of what the rock art means. We have evidence to "guesstimate" the age of a few of the paintings and we have some idea of the artist's materials and tools, but interpretation is still a real enigma. In his definitive work, "The Aboriginal Rock Paintings of the Churchill River", Tim Jones talks about the function, interpretation and significance of the paintings. One of the most intriguing theories he advances is that rock art was connected to the cosmology of its creators. They believed that spirits infused all things. Shamans or medicine men acted as intermediaries between the people and the spirit world, and they possessed the power to create and interpret the "rock writings." Also, young men undergoing the rites of passage to manhood may have expressed their vision quest for a guardian spirit in rock art form. It's all fascinating conjecture, but one thing is certain - the mystery of meaning makes the study of rock art irresistible!

The metaphysical overtones emanating from the rock art only enhance our appreciation of its physical reality. We can enjoy the rock paintings simply as works of art in their own right, displayed as they always are on durable Precambrian "canvas" in awesome, open air galleries created by a cosmic Architect! The stark and simple stick figures, silhouettes, geometric patterns and abstract symbols are beautiful to behold. We can only marvel at the incredible staying power of the paint materials that the Aboriginals used to communicate their inspiration. There is nothing in modern chemistry that can touch the longevity of the red ochre and fish bladder glue as a paint pigment and binder combination. In fact, a Canadian Shield painting in Quebec has been dated at over 2000 years old! No need for acid-free, temperature controlled archival conditions here!

Precambrian Rock Art Galleries

The dramatic backdrop for this imposing artwork is Canada's Precambrian Shield. Because the Shield is such an overwhelming presence in the Churchill River Upland region, it is worthwhile to review some significant aspects of Northern Saskatchewan's geological history.

Precambrian rocks were created between 1.8 and 3.2 billion years ago and represent some of the oldest formations in the world. The earth's crust, in the early days of our planet, was subjected to immense internal forces of heat and pressure. Molten rock, called magma, came to the surface and hardened as igneous rock. Magma was also intruded into the folds and faults of the twisted and contorted crust, forming intrusive bodies of igneous rock.

Millions of years of rock formation, erosion, sedimentation, metamorphosis, and crustal movement created a landscape of volcanic islands, mountain ranges, and plateaus. The tectonic activity was accompanied by a series of inland seas flooding and helping to further modify the landscape. Thick deposits of sediments from these seas would become layers of sedimentary rock.

With the passage of time, primordial life forms emerged from the seas and inhabited the lands. Saskatchewan, for example, became home to many species of dinosaurs during the late Cretaceous Period of geological history. As tectonic activity continued and the continents drifted over the molten material underneath, Saskatchewan shifted northward and the climate began to change.

Over the past two million years, Saskatchewan was covered with a series of glaciers that further modified and shaped the landscape. The incredible weight of moving ice eroded the surface of the shield, dragging and plucking material from the surface and depositing the debris in other locations. The glaciers were centred near Hudson Bay and as they flowed from the centre they moved across northern Saskatchewan in a northeast to southwest direction. This flow paralleled many of the structural trends in the underlying bedrock and the surface erosion from the glaciers helped emphasize the "grain" of the land. We can see this pattern in the locality of the Rock Art Camp and throughout the region by observing the striations or scratches in the rocks, or the alignment of rivers, lakes, and depositional landforms like eskers and drumlins.

Today, we see a Shield landscape shaped by millions of years of geological history, but most recently and obviously by the last ice age. The forest is but a few thousand years old, and the exposed bedrock that has experienced these millions of years of modification is readily visible in many places. The paintings on this ancient rock provide a window into the past, when early residents of this harsh, beautiful environment expressed themselves upon the outcrops, leaving us to speculate on their reasons and feelings.

Unparalleled Treasure-Trove

I started the Rock Art Camp in 1997 after an exploratory trip into the area in the summer of '96. The first trip was a remarkable experience. I recall being totally awestruck at the grandeur of the natural surroundings.

-Cliff Speer

The geography of this remote boreal shield location about 50 air miles north of the Churchill River hamlet of Missinipe, is simply stunning. I can't think of a better descriptive term. The granite outcrops of the Canadian Shield rise to heights of 50 plus metres (160 feet) above the level of the surrounding lakescape and drop off in sheer cliffs to the waterline. Assembled along the base of the cliffs is the most spectacular display of Aboriginal rock paintings in all of the Canadian Shield, countrywide. The paintings have exceptional color and vividness, and are remarkably well preserved. This combined with the sheer number (over 100 figures) makes this northern Saskatchewan pictograph site an archaeological treasure trove worthy of national and international acclaim.

The late Selwyn Dewdney, well known for his extensive pioneer research on Canadian Shield rock art, first recorded the site in 1964. In all of Canada, Dewdney claims that the only other Shield site to rival this one in the sheer number of figures is in southeastern Ontario, although much of the Ontario site has weathered to the point of obscurity. In his book, "Dating Rock Art in the Canadian Shield", Dewdney pays tribute to the remarkable geography of the Saskatchewan location. "Few rock art occurrences in the Shield Woodlands are associated with so impressive a setting…The mass of granitic rock where the paintings occur rises some 90 feet [27 metres] above the water and extends 400 feet [122 metres] along the shore. A deep, high fissure, provides the illusion of an entrance into the rock wall, and does in fact penetrate it enough to hide a small canoe. No visitor can linger in the vicinity without some feelings of awe, for, though the dimensions of this rock would seem slight to a person accustomed to mountainous terrain, their scale in relation to that of rock outcrops usual in the Shield country is massive."

Dramatic scenery and the best of Canadian Shield rock art are the most alluring aspects of the Rock Art Camp. But there's a lot more. Just being in an unspoiled, untamed boreal forest environment lends itself to getting acquainted with how Indigenous people once did and still do relate to the natural environment around them. We have opportunities to learn about how plants and animals served domestic needs for food, medicine and craftwork as one of our interpreters is a Native artist skilled in willow basketry, hide tanning, quillwork and crafting tamarack decoys. You can even observe the red ochre used in the rock paintings in the reddish brown soil near the pictographs.

Less predictable, but precious nonetheless, are encounters with boreal forest wildlife. Moose, woodland caribou, and timber wolves occupy the region, but are rarely seen. You are more likely to spot bald eagles or osprey near our campsite or around the cliffs at the rock paintings. At the August 2000 Camp, one of the participants had the special privilege of a close-up encounter with a river otter on the rocky beach a few paces from the cabin. So, you too could get lucky if your timing was just right!

Legends, Games and Traditional Treats

The Camp is located on a picturesque lakeshore point within a short 3-km paddle of the primary pictograph site. Because the primary site is so impressive, it tends to become the focus of the first day or so of activities, with exploring, admiring, photographing and generally trying to absorb the overwhelming panorama of "natural artwork". .

Tim Jones, professional archaeologist and Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society, is the chief interpreter and instructor in charge of the learning activities at the Archaeology Camp. Depending on the weather, other activities may occur in addition to the daily paddling excursions on the lake to visit and learn about rock paintings. Making Aboriginal period pottery, throwing an atlatl, firemaking with a bow drill or trying your hand at flint knapping are some of the activities that will help keep you in the archaeological mood! Tim has also involved the group in minor field studies on the Camp grounds that have lots of archaeological evidence of prior cultural occupation. In his overview of Saskatchewan archaeology, Tim briefs everyone on the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society's Guidelines for Visiting Saskatchewan Archaeological Sites.

Canoeing is our mode of transport at the Camp, adding authenticity and adventure to the rock art experience. After all, we do know that the creators of the paintings used canoes to do their work! We spend some time on basic canoeing and safety instruction prior to launching on our first paddling excursion to explore the pictographs. The daily canoeing forays from the base camp are easy, short distance jaunts on relatively protected areas of the lake. They are suitable for most levels of paddling ability, including first-timers. Because we have the luxury of a base camp, the daily routine can be flexed to accommodate a reasonable range of participant needs. Also, on the safety front, we carry a well-stocked first-aid kit and a satellite phone for emergency communication.

For readers, Tim brings in a small library of pertinent archaeological literature, including his own book on the Churchill River paintings. In the evenings, participants have enjoyed listening to legends told by our Cree resource person, Bonnie Hamilton. They have also enjoyed feasting on the local smoked lake trout and wild rice that Bonnie prepared for a traditional supper treat. On our first Camp, Jimmy Joe Roberts, our guide from the Cree community of Stanley Mission, got the group involved in playing with nawatahikan, a traditional game made from caribou foot bones. It provided great entertainment for the better part of an evening! Depending on which resource staff are available, each year brings new and exciting things to see and do.

Getting There
& Back

As is the case with all CanoeSki tours, the tour itinerary starts with rounding up the group in Saskatoon on departure day. We then travel northward by passenger van for almost 5 hours, taking a lunch stop, and eventually arriving in Missinipe on the Churchill River.

There we load the canoes and camp supplies for the half-hour floatplane flight to the Rock Art Camp. We have access to a semi-modern cabin with bunks and kitchen facilities for accommodation, and for program activities if the weather turns inclement. We also use the grounds for setting up tents for additional sleeping quarters as required. Facilities at the Camp are rustic with wilderness amenities only - no power or running water, outhouse toilet, lanterns for lighting, and a beautiful, pristine fresh water lake for swimming. Lake water is used for cooking and wash-up. Drinking water is filtered from the lake to ensure potability.

Following four fun-filled, eventful days, we wind up activities in preparation for an early afternoon floatplane departure back to Missinipe. From there it's back into the van for the return drive to Saskatoon with a supper stop in Prince Albert en route. After group good-byes, you're left to ponder what this journey of discovery into the world of ancient Aboriginal rock art and archaeology means to your life!

"Don't forget the teachings of the ancestors. In their paths we will find hope for the future."
- Mayan elder.

References
Jones, Tim. 1981
The Aboriginal Rock Paintings of the Churchill River

The following articles are available on the Canoe Saskatchewan web site: http://www.canoesaskatchewan.rkc.ca on the Archaeology and Geology pages:
Human History in Far Northern Saskatchewan; The Geological History of Saskatchewan; The Churchill-Reindeer Rivers Area: Evolution of its Landscape;

MacDonald, Robert. "Bedrock Geology"; de Boer, Dirk and Martz, Laurence.; "Topography"; 1999 The Atlas of Saskatchewan, ed. Fung, Ka-iu

My thanks to Tim Jones and Peter Goode for their help
with the human history and geology information.