Have you ever seen our Friends Students scanning the water’s edge in their bright green shirts with nets in hand and thought, “What are they doing?” The answer is surveying dragonflies and damselflies! We help our odonate expert, Bev, identify a variety of species by bug netting and collecting exuviae.
Murphys Point is home to numerous native reptile species including the beloved Gray Ratsnake and a variety of turtle species. While we see an abundance of these scaly and shelled creatures in the park, many of the reptiles at Murphys Point are designated as species at risk in Ontario.
When a species is labelled as ‘at risk’, they are then classified as extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern. The Gray Ratsnakes that call the park home belong to the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population, which is listed as threatened. There are turtle species in the park that are classified as special concern such as the Eastern Musk Turtle, Northern Map Turtle, and Snapping Turtle, and species listed as threatened, like the Blanding’s Turtle. This is why the Friends of Murphys Point and Discovery Team put great effort into monitoring and conservation projects such as our Adopt-a-Snake program and turtle nesting surveys. To learn more about the Adopt-a-Snake program, follow the link to our webpage here: https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca/adopt-a-snake/
We encourage you to let a staff member know if you see a Gray Ratsnake, nesting turtle, or turtle hatchling while visiting Murphys Point, as this helps us keep the park’s reptile population happy and healthy!
Written by Whitney Quenneville
Today, on National Indigenous Peoples Day, we want to highlight and celebrate Indigenous leaders and interpreters who have facilitated workshops at Murphys Point over the past few years.
In 2018 and 2019, master canoe builder, Chuck Commanda, of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg came to Murphys Point to complete two birch bark canoe builds with park staff and volunteers. One canoe was kept here at the park for visitors to see, and the second was raffled off to raise funds towards future Indigenous programming in the park. Chuck then came back to Murphys Point in 2020 to lead a basket-making workshop. If you would like to learn more about the canoe build, have a look at the videos posted here on our website: https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca/canoe-build-videos/
In 2021, Helena Neveu of the Batchewana First Nation facilitated a drum-making workshop and drum birthing ceremony. Staff and visitors participated in the creation of drums and rattles and were taught the significance of the building process and of the drum itself. To learn more about the drum-making workshop, click the link to our website article here: https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca/2021/09/05/drum-making-workshop-2021/
In October of 2023, Marc Forgette, member of the Apitipi Anicinapek Nation and the creator of Makatew Workshops, lead a medicine bag workshop for park staff. Not only did this hands-on workshop teach about the history of medicine bags, but focused on the importance of locally sourced crafting materials, cultural appreciation, and pathways to truth and reconciliation. To learn more about Marc and Makatew Workshops, click the link to his website here: https://www.makatew.ca
Most recently, Fire Keeper, Kayl Commanda, of the Nipissing First Nation came to Murphys Point to lead an Anishinaabe Fire Teachings program for staff and park visitors. Kayl shared teachings that they have received relating to fire building, the cultural and ceremonial significance of having a fire, and the role of a Fire Keeper within community.
We are incredibly grateful for the traditional knowledge that has been shared with us during these programs, and we thank you for all of your time and effort spent creating and teaching here at Murphys Point.
Chi-miigwech!
Friends of Murphys Point Park 