Walpole Chief attends parkway opening

 

by Aaron Lombardi

Members of Walpole Island council attended the Herb Gray Parkway opening to honour the relationship the council shares with Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation.

The parkway trail, which officially opened on Nov. 9, stretches 17 km between the municipalities of Windsor, LaSalle and Tecumseh. The project began in early 2004 with Walpole First Nations receiving rights to share history and culture along the path.

A turtle made from steel with a large stone resting on its back was unveiled to the public during the ceremony. The Turtle, designed by Walpole artist Teresa Altiman, represents “Turtle Island,” a First Nations term for North America.

“You are standing on the back of the turtle,” said Walpole elder Reta Sands. “It is meant to carry the grandfather stone.”

The grandfather stone, a piece of limestone sitting on the back of the turtle, represents homage of safe passage to all those using the path. Totem poles and other Indigenous artwork decorate the walkway which is now accessible to cyclists and joggers. Walpole Chief Dan Miskokomon was in attendance at the unveiling of the turtle sculpture, although elder Sands answered all questions.

The relationship shared between the Walpole Island First Nation and the Ministry of Transportation is solely based on the MTO commitment to share the culture of First Nations Peoples in areas highly populated with people, mainly roads and walkways. MTO minister Steven Del Duca is the head of operations for the parkway’s development and is proud of the resulting outcome from the construction.

“The parkway trail is a continuous path with bridges and tunnels, allowing both pedestrians and cyclists to travel along the parkway without encountering a vehicle,” said Del Duca.

The art along the path has Indigenous themes and are created by Walpole area artists. Altiman designed The Turtle, crediting it to Indigenous mythology. The Turtle has been well received by the public along with the other artwork that decorates the trail for passersby.

“This (the artwork) tells you a lot about First Nations People,” said Altiman. “It’s the spirit of who we are and everything that surrounds us.”

The parkway will also be renaming certain sectors after fallen Windsor police officers such as Const. John Atkinson and Const. Robert Carrick. The MTO’s relationship with the Walpole nation will remain in good spirits as future projects go underway.