A vigil on Tabor Hill 2008
Linda and I spent the evening of the summer solstice on the Tabor Hill Ossuary, one of the largest Native Canadian Ossuaries in Ontario and located in the middle of a small suburban development here in West Hill. The plaque commemorating the event is encased in our of the largest granite rocks in the area.
The Tabor Hill Ossuary consists of two burial pits which were first excavated by Dr. Walter Kenyon of the Royal Ontario Museum in 1956. Both pits had the classic structure of ancestral Huron ossuaries, containing the largely disarticulated and commingled remains of 475 individuals who had been previously interred, and then moved and placed in these pits at a later date.
Such burial events were undertaken at the time of village relocation and were known as the Feast of the Dead. The bones have since been reinterred in a special ceremony under the auspices of the City of Scarborough and with the direction of First Nations representatives.
Nice rock you have there. It's heartening to know that many of the remains recovered in the interest of science or history or whatever are being given back and laid to rest.
ReplyDeleteAnd that was back in the '50's Nancy. Shows science knew the right thing to do all along.
ReplyDeletenice pics...the first wih the sun in the back is my fav...stirring reminders...and i am glad they took care of the remains as well...
ReplyDeleteI downloaded and enlarged the second image to try to read the text, but found it quite hard. Googling for Iroquois Prayer and Great Spirit, I did find the following. It is not exactly the same, but seems similar:
ReplyDeleteOh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to the world, hear me.
I come to you as one of your many children. I am small and weak. I need your strength and your wisdom.
May I walk in beauty. Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things that you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may know the things you have taught your children, the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
Make me strong, not to be superior to my brothers and sisters, but to be able to conquer my greatest enemy, myself.
Make me ever ready to come to You with straight eyes, so that when life fades as the fading sunset, my spirit comes to You without shame.
- Chief Dan George
Amen. Barry, I know there is much in your life at present to make you feel "small and weak", so I applaud your quiet courage in seeking out the strength and wisdom and lessons "hidden in very leaf and rock".
That is truly an inspirational rock and story. You and Linda are the best at doing that. Love and blessings.
ReplyDeleteQMM
nice shots, and wonderful use of rocks in comemoration
ReplyDeleteThis is a perfect rock for this week's assignment, and the text (in Lorenzo's comment) is beautiful indeed.
ReplyDeleteWow that is facinating..and wonderful! Perfect for the subject this week!!
ReplyDeleteHow are ya feeling Barry? Hope you are both well!! Hugs, Sarah
Wow, that is very cool. I love how the sunset is captured in one of the photos. Great post.
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing well.
What a wonderful history lesson my friend, you and Linda are a great team. Hope you are feeling okay Barry......:-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteNot feeling too good, Sarah. Am being admitted to the hospital on Sunday for four days or so to drain the fluid from around my lungs and to seal the pleurae so I won't have this problem again.
ReplyDeleteHopefully by the time of the next FSO I will be able to breath and have some energy back.
Wonderful pictues and sentiments of historical significance. Such an important part of history to preserve in the most sacred of ways. Thanks to Lorenzo for the Prayer of the Great Spirit and may it aid you in your recovery, Barry. Wishing you well!
ReplyDeleteBarry
ReplyDeletewonderful post about a sacred place--here's hoping that you are feeling better soon! c
wow! love the memorial of historical significance. the first two shots are wonderful Barry and Linda. great post! hope your hospital stay goes smoothly and quickly for you.
ReplyDeleteLove the haloed effect of the second photo. You have an angel by your side, Barry. I think it's wonderful how you can turn a topic into a touching tribute. I'm also touched by Lorenzo's "prayer". May it aid your recovery.
ReplyDeleteLorenzo's prayer was certainly a lovely addition to the post, Pauline.
ReplyDeleteThis really touched my heart. What a beautiful memorial.
ReplyDeleteOne of the neatest things about the internet, and blogs is that some days a theme of sorts emerges. I was just elsewhere, commenting on a blog post talking about the Underground Railroad, and our own brutal history with slavery, here in the states.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the most hopeful things about the human race, and certain countries in particular is how much we try to learn from, and rectify our mistakes.
Lovely pictures, but it was the concept that the bodies were re-interred in a special ceremony that I found particularly moving.
It certainly shows things can be done respectfully, LOS.
ReplyDeleteOh, Linda, I just read about Barry's passing...I haven't been able to participate in FSO in quite awhile, but will always remember Barry's kind words of encouragement whenever I posted. He will be missed. My thoughts are with you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI've just read kate's comment. If accurate - and I suppose it must be - I am truly saddened. I have always appreciated his contributions and kind comments.
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