Mattawa - Following The Path Of The Voyageurs (35-7)
By Len Rich
The
name Mattawa is the Ojibway phrase for "meeting of the
waters"
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In
many ways, the town of Mattawa, Ontario, looks like any other
small Canadian community. There are the usual retail outlets,
the grocery stores and service stations, corner markets and
hardware stores found in just about any settlement of about
3,000 people.
A local museum recalls the area's history with displays of numerous
artifacts. Mattawa holds an annual Voyageur Days Festival, a
four day event with a variety of activities for children, youth,
adults and families. There are usually fireworks, a canoe race,
and four evenings of musical entertainment provided by a wide
spectrum of performers. The Mattawa area also offers excellent
fishing and hunting.
But looking a bit deeper you begin to notice the differences,
such as the carved wooden figures which dot the area. Upon closer
examination, you learn that they represent early settlers, explorers,
and voyageurs in the fur trade who once traversed the region
in their large canoes.
There are fourteen larger-than-life-sized wooden statues in
all, scattered throughout the town and immediate area. The first
you may notice is located in front of the Mattawa Information
Centre, simply titled "The Voyageur", a faithful representation
of the hardy travellers.
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(Read full article in the magazine.) |
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