Point Pelee National Park Day-Use Area Renamed ‘Madbin Jina’

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Parks Canada

The Point Pelee National Park day-use area formerly known as “Pioneer” was renamed” Madbin Jina”, at a small ceremony Saturday attended by members of Caldwell First Nation, Walpole Island First Nation and Parks Canada staff.

The new name “Madbin Jina”, invites visitors to come ‘sit a while’ and invokes a traditional expression for welcoming guests in the Anishinaabe language, Anishinaabemowin.

“In the time of our Ancestors, if someone was new to the area, lost, cold or hungry, the People would invite them into their lodges to ‘sit for a while’. All who crossed their paths in peace were welcomed and cared for as they got their bearings, were fed and rested, all for a while (ajina),” said Knowledge-Keeper, Janne I. Peters of Caldwell First Nation.

The idea of renaming this day-use area was brought forward by the park’s First Nations Advisory Circle, which is composed of members of Caldwell and Walpole Island First Nations.

It is one of a number of collaborative initiatives that Point Pelee National Park is currently working on with both First Nations.

These projects will focus on the implementation of First Nation stories throughout Point Pelee, and include support for oral history gathering, historical and archaeological research, language revitalization initiatives, youth engagement, community training and skills development.