Trees believed to be markers used for navigating pose behind the markers and the way in which they were made. "These are trees that were modified to mark trails, mark sources of water, point to camps, point to the easiest place to ford a creek," said O'Hara. "This was back before the days of corner stores so water sources were very important along their travelling routes. Native people never just drank from a stream, they always wanted to access spring water. So they would mark a fresh water source of groundwater bubbling out of the ground or trickling down a ravine slope." These markers were important because they stopped members of the tribe from getting lost, something, which back then, could be fatal, particularly in winter. "Back before traffic lights or GPS or anything like that, you wanted to stick to the trail," said O'Hara. "Aboriginals would travel at all times of the year. You can picture being stuck in a snowstorm and how important it would be to be able to have these markers along your route because maybe the path would be covered in snow." O'Hara said the Native peoples would modify these trees by taking a young sapling and bending it to the ground using a piece of rawhide or grapevine or by simply covering the top of the sapling with rocks. With the sapling bent over, vertical branches would emerge along the sapling's spine that would continue to shoot towards the sun. The Aboriginals would then remove some of these branches, but allow others to grow. The tree would eventually get used to the bend and stay that way, at which point the tip of the sapling would wither away or would be removed. The result is a tree with a distinct bend in it, which points like an arrow towards a destination. O'Hara said he has discovered four such trees in Oakville. He said he found these trees six weeks ago in a wooded area located just south of the QEW between Bronte Road and McPherson Road, with the help of Oakville historian Terry Whelan. Continued from page 1 9 · Friday, May 11, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com "It reminds you of what was part of our ancestors' life, travelling around this creek." Carolyn King, member Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation has been studying the ecology of southern Ontario on a professional level for 18 years. He has also been doing habitat inventory and endangered species work for 13 years. In the last three, he has been researching native trail marker trees in southern Ontario, wrote an article for the Field Botanists of Ontario newsletter published last fall and debuted a presentation on his trail marker tree research in February at the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation as part of a three-day celebration. "It was very well-received," he said. Carolyn King of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation accompanied O'Hara on a recent excursion to see the markers. "It's amazing. It reminds you of what was part of our ancestors' life, travelling around this creek," she said. "We all know about the Inuksuk. This is the same concept. Using nature to create directions." O'Hara said the marker trees are important because they are part of this area's extensive heritage. "Colonial history in Oakville is only a couple of hundred years old. Aboriginals were in Oakville thousands of years before. The weight of history is not with colonial history, it is with aboriginal history," said O'Hara. "It's just that we don't have that much evidence remaining of aboriginal history. Sure you have arrowheads and Indian artifacts and that sort of stuff that's found, but it's not as pronounced as the recorded colonial history. These markers are indicating a part of that history. Telling us that someone was there, an aboriginal marked these trees." O'Hara said it is important these trees be documented as many are coming to the end of their long lifespan and will not be around for much longer. Graham Paine / oakville beaver tracking history: First Nations member Carolyn King has been out to investigate the discovery of trees believed to have been used as trail markers by Native North Americans. "They are indicating a crossing at Bronte Creek," said O'Hara. "They are indicating a trail you would take down to the ravine and then the crossing at the creek." O'Hara said two major Native trails converge at this crossing. One of these trails stretches across the Greater Golden Horseshoe and is believed by some to be 8,000-9,000 years old. O'Hara said he is a botanist, landscape designer and native plant gardening expert and VISIt oUr WedneSdAY, open House on mAY 30 At HSC, I Am leArnIng to be A leAder. Something as simple as a five-year-old helping a three-year-old with a coat can develop into the older student helping at community events. Early connections and experiences build the foundation of global citizenship. - Danielle Hourigan, Montessori School Vice Principal Hillfield Strathallan College is an independent day school for students from M3 and PK to Grade 12. Visit us at www.hsc.on.ca. Call Scott barton It's worth it! 905-389-1367 www.hsc.on.ca