Aqua-Plano Indians of the Upper Great Lakes

Photo by contributor Thomas William Kirkbride - Posted March, 2006

Plaque Location

The District of Thunder Bay
The Township of Shuniah
About 5 km south of Highway 11/17, on the west side of Highway 587
which leads to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

Coordinates: N 48 34.061 W 88 44.730

Plaque Text

In 1950 archeological investigations in this area uncovered a site which had been used as a workshop camp by a group of the earliest known people in this part of the Upper Great Lakes basin. Called Aqua-Plano Indians because they migrated from the western plains to fossil beaches of glacial and post-glacial lakes in this region, they appeared about 9,000 years ago following the retreat of glaciers and the northward movement of plants and animals. They developed a distinctive tradition based primarily on large game hunting using weapons and specialized tools made of taconite, a stone that was obtained locally. Their way of life, which was closely related to the environment, disappeared as the climate grew warmer.

More
First Nations

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

(none yet)

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).