Tucked away in the North-East corner of the Magwood Sanctuary lies a sacred Iroquoian burial mound which dates back to the 16th Century Teiaiagon village. The mound is currently at risk of permanent damage due to excessive foot traffic by those who hike in the forest, and soil erosion from the lack of maintenance. Like many Indigenous sites in the Canadian landscape, proper care and acknowledgement is not implemented. On the other hand, many sites are hidden beneath Colonial infrastructure and have since been protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. How do we reach equality when one culture is buried beneath another? The answer was to look at public greenspace – where sacred moments hide in plain sight, have room for design opportunity, and true reconciliation.
