Page 17 - Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation

he Mississaugas are a tribe of the Anishinabek Nation. We
believe our ancestors have lived on Turtle Island since WORDS TO KNOW
the time it was created. The Scugog Island region was the ancestors: relatives that lived
Tsummer home of our ancestors for many years prior to long ago
European settlement. Our people travelled here each spring resources: supplies that meet
a need
from the shores of Lake Ontario to enjoy all of the resources
of this area—maple syrup, wild rice, cranberries, and game such
as deer and bear. The marsh that existed then was full of ducks,
geese, and other waterfowl.

By 1828, the Mississaugas had started growing crops along the
very fertile shore of the marsh. During this time, there was a
school operated by Methodist missionaries.

TURTLE ISLAND
Turtle Island is what our people
call North America. Like many
other people around the world,
Anishinaabe people carry stories
about how living things survived a
great flood. The name Turtle Island
comes from our story of how the
flood came to be and how, after
the flood, the last human and other
animals took turns diving into water
to try to grab earth to grow new
land. Only the muskrat was able to
dive deep enough to grab land, but
he died when he came back up. In
his honour, the turtle offered to
carry the new land on her back.

Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation 15

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