Ipperwash Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Ipperwash Provincial Park is a provincial park
on the shores of southern Lake Huron
in Lambton County
, Ontario
.
Located near Grand Bend
, the 56 hectare, or 140 acre (0.5665604 km²), park was established in 1936. It contains a long sandy beach on the lakeshore, as well as rare flowers and sand dunes. Wildlife include migrating jaegers
, scoter
, grebe
, and Brant goose.
, in 1942 the national government appropriated land for a military base from the Chippewa of Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation
after first offering payment for it, with a promise of return after the war. They continued to use Camp Ipperwash for cadet summer training into the 1990s.
The Chippewa First Nation has claimed the park contains a native burial ground
; although there has been no recent archaeological survey to confirm this conclusion, documentary evidence exists which supports it.
First Nations activism led protesters to occupy the base and the park in September 1995. A confrontation between Ontario Provincial Police and the protesters resulted in the death of Dudley George, the only aboriginal killed in 20th century land claims disputes.
In 2003, the provincial government commissioned an investigative inquiry into George's death and events of the protest. This led to changes in policing policy, and findings that some officials had made racist comments.
On 20 December 2007, the Ontario government announced that it would return Ipperwash Provincial Park to the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. Ontario and the First Nation will jointly administer the park for some time.
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
on the shores of southern Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
in Lambton County
Lambton County, Ontario
Lambton County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county is located in Southwestern Ontario. It is bordered on the north by Lake Huron, which flows into the St. Clair River, the county's western border and part of the Canada-United States border. To the south is Lake...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Located near Grand Bend
Grand Bend, Ontario
Grand Bend, often referred to as simply "The Bend" or "GB," is a Southern Ontario community located on the shores of Lake Huron and a part of the municipality of Lambton Shores in the county of Lambton.Grand Bend is home to a variety of stores and eateries...
, the 56 hectare, or 140 acre (0.5665604 km²), park was established in 1936. It contains a long sandy beach on the lakeshore, as well as rare flowers and sand dunes. Wildlife include migrating jaegers
Skua
The skuas are a group of seabirds with about seven species forming the family Stercorariidae and the genus Stercorarius. The three smaller skuas are called jaegers in North America....
, scoter
Scoter
The scoters are stocky seaducks in the genus Melanitta. The drakes are mostly black and have swollen bills. Females are brown.They breed in the far north of Europe, Asia and North America, and winter further south in temperate zones of those continents. They form large flocks on suitable coastal...
, grebe
Grebe
A grebe is a member of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter...
, and Brant goose.
Ipperwash Crisis
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in 1942 the national government appropriated land for a military base from the Chippewa of Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation
Kettle Point 44, Ontario
Kettle Point 44 is an Indian reserve northeast of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, on the southern shore of Lake Huron. The reserve serves as the land base for the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation...
after first offering payment for it, with a promise of return after the war. They continued to use Camp Ipperwash for cadet summer training into the 1990s.
The Chippewa First Nation has claimed the park contains a native burial ground
Burial Ground
Burial Ground is the ninth studio album by Swedish death metal band Grave, released in June 2010.-Track listing:# "Liberation" - 3:40# "Semblance In Black" - 7:50# "Dismembered Mind" - 6:10# "Ridden With Belief" - 7:57# "Conquerer" - 4:44...
; although there has been no recent archaeological survey to confirm this conclusion, documentary evidence exists which supports it.
First Nations activism led protesters to occupy the base and the park in September 1995. A confrontation between Ontario Provincial Police and the protesters resulted in the death of Dudley George, the only aboriginal killed in 20th century land claims disputes.
In 2003, the provincial government commissioned an investigative inquiry into George's death and events of the protest. This led to changes in policing policy, and findings that some officials had made racist comments.
On 20 December 2007, the Ontario government announced that it would return Ipperwash Provincial Park to the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. Ontario and the First Nation will jointly administer the park for some time.