Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Winter Fun And Ancient Tradition

Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River is the largest Winterlude site, and turned into a large playground for visitors. Mounds of snow are assembled in January for the creation of snowslides, as it was in 2018.


For those who might be too little for the snowslides, other activities: these sleds are kitted out not unlike dog sleds, but with an adult doing the work while a young one sits and takes it all in. The frozen river and the Ottawa shore are in the background here.


The slides are popular.


And there were dogsleds in the park too, with the dogs running through paths through much the rest of the park.


Other activities: demonstrations of First Nations living, with teepees set up in the park.


Drums- both finished and in process- are seen here. The frames are made of wood, and the process of woodworking the old fashioned way was being shown by members of the Anishinaabe peoples.


Green wood is better for working into curves for drums, snowshoes, or other purposes than wet wood is.


A fur in the background, and in the foreground, a portion of a tree first hollowed out to make a trough. This was the technique for making maple sugar. Rocks would be heated in fires, moved by antlers into the troughs to heat the sap, and the sap poured in. The result was maple sugar, used both for food and medical purposes.

30 comments:

  1. It must´ve been real tough back in the day.
    Though. I remember our Dad once build an igloo. And guess what! It was warm inside.
    Boy, these days we hardly have any snow here (happy dance from my side).

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  2. How awful !!! Snow ! I hate it ! am born on the wrong side of the world !

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  3. Hello,
    What a fun winter event. I like the dog sledding and the teepees. Take care, enjoy your day!

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  4. ...the Anishinaabe people are hardy souls!

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  5. @Iris: it was a life.

    @Italiafinlandia: indeed.

    @Gattina: I love the snow.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @Tom: definitely.

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  6. Your last photo is telling the most interesting story for me.

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  7. I'm no winter fan but when I see what all they do to make winter fun in Ottawa, I think I could convert. Well, I'd try!

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  8. Any colour is a relief in such settings!

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  9. I was born in Africa and have live almost all my life in "warm" countries, I would struggle with all that snow.
    I like your header photo, very pretty setting.

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  10. A lot of fun can be had in winter's snow. Beautifully captures William!

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  11. The dog sledding is fun to see.

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  12. Fun and favorite photos are of the First Nation peoples ~

    Wishing you love and laughter in your days,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  13. @Jan: thank you.

    @Jeanie: we have a blast.

    @Maywyn: thank you.

    @Magiceye: indeed.

    @RedPat: they are.

    @Sami: I love the snow.

    @Denise: thank you.

    @Bill: that it is.

    @Carol: thanks.

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  14. Such a lot of fun to be had in the snow.

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  15. Very cool William. You folks do it right

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  16. It's such a wonderful event for families! Our kids go and enjoy it.

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  17. I think they have a lots of fun.
    It doesn’t matter if it’s cold as long as there’s a lot of clothes on.

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  18. Tradition is one of the most important things which we have.

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