Friends of Murphys Point Park

National Indigenous Peoples Day 2025

Posted on June 21, 2025 by Friends of Murphys Point

Boozhoo, today is National Indigenous Peoples Day!

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the cultures, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Murphys Point is situated on the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin peoples.

Indigenous knowledge, ways of knowing, wisdom, and interpretation are invaluable and hold important places in reconciliation. Today we would like to showcase some of the leaders who have shared the knowledge, efforts, and time with The Friends of Murphys Point, staff, and visitors to the park. We would also like to encourage all of you to reflect on the ways we connect to the land we are situated on and our roles in reconciliation.

The Friends of Murphys Point were a part of hosting handmade birch bark canoe builder, Chuck Commanda in 2018 and 2019 for two builds. Chuck grew up as part of the Kitigan Zibi Anishiniabeg, an Algonquin First Nation, and learned to build through helping his grandparents make birch bark canoes.

The 2018 birch bark canoe built Chuck Commanda on the shoreline at Murphys Point

The first canoe build is featured on the Friends of Murphys Point website under our canoe build section (https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca/canoe-build-videos/). This canoe is kept at the park for visitors to learn about and see. The second canoe was raffled to raise funds towards indigenous programming in the park. Thank you to Chuck for sharing this knowledge with us through birch bark canoe building.

The inside of a birch bark canoe during construction by Chuck Commanda at Murphys Point

The Friends of Murphys Point have also hosted Helena Neveu host a drum-making workshop series which ran online and in the park in 2021. Helena, Walksfar Woman – Waasabiidaasome Kwe, of the Batchewana First Nation, an Ojibwe First Nation, shared her wisdom in two virtual and two in-person workshop sessions. Helena has over 30 years of experience as a drum maker and shared the spiritual significance, as well as the connection of the drum and storytelling in Ojibwe culture. The drum making workshops with Helena Neveu can be found on the Friends website at https://friendsofmurphyspoint.ca/2021/09/05/drum-making-workshop-2021/. Thank you to Helena for sharing this knowledge with us through drum making.

Drums from a drum making workshops with Helena Neveu, Walksfar Woman – Waasabiidaasome Kwe, 2021

The underside of a drum during building at the workshop

In 2023, Marc Forgette, Apitipi Anicinapek Nation, lead a medicine bag workshop for park staff. Marc is the creator of Makatew Workshops. This workshop shared the history of medicine bags, as well as pathways to truth and reconciliation, cultural appreciation, and sourcing materials locally for crafting. Makatew Workshops can be found at Makatew.ca. Thank you to Marc for sharing this knowledge with us through medicine bag creation.

Medicine Bag from the 2023 workshop lead by Marc Forgette

In 2024, Fire Keeper Kayl Commanda of the Nipissing First Nation lead an Anishinaabe Fire Teachings program for park visitors and staff. Kayl shared about the cultural and ceremonial significance of having a fire, teaching they have received relate to the building of fires, and the role of Fire Keepers in their communities. Thank you to Kayl for sharing this knowledge with us through Fire Keeping.

Kayl Commanda during their 2024 Fire Teachings program

We are incredibly honoured and grateful for all of these experiences and the traditional knowledge that has been shared at Murphys Point over the years through these programs. We thank these teachers for their presence, efforts, and time in the park and with communities.

On this day, we encourage you to recognize and celebrate the many traditions, contributions, and cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Become familiar with where you are situated and engage in learning. Were you able to take part in any of these workshops? Let us know in the comments.

Chi-miigwech!

Posted in canoe raffle, Friends of Murphys Point, Heritage, Murphys Point | Tagged cultural heritage, Friends canoe raffle, Friends of Murphys Point Park, heritage, Murphys Point, Murphys Point Provincial Park | Leave a comment

Friends of Murphys Pointy 30th Anniversary: The Moth Project Giveaway

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Friends of Murphys Point

The Friends of Murphys Point are pleased to announce our 30th Anniversary of Friends of Murphys Point Park by giving away 2 FREE TICKETS to The Moth Project!

An evening of live MUSIC, stunning macroPHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO and STORYTELLING in celebration of the Friends’ 30th anniversary!

About the project: “Blending art and science, Western and Indigenous ways of knowing, The Moth Project weaves together live music, stunning macro photography, slow-motion video and dynamic motion graphics into a 75-minute live performance. GRAMMY-nominated musician, Peter Kiesewalter, joined on stage by violinist, Whitney La Grange, invites the audience on a parallel journey of moths and humans.

From Bach to Joni Mitchell to KISS to original songs, the music reflects the incredible diversity of moths and explores the common themes between us and them – migration, transformation, death, seduction and hope. Musical storytelling is underscored by a spoken-word narrative that weaves in one family’s migration story and ecological reflections. Preceding the show, interpretive naturalist Tobi Kiesewalter will present a 30-minute talk on moths.” – The Moth Project

Here’s how to enter:

Follow our page @friendsofmurphyspointpark on Instagram
Leave a like and comment on the giveaway post
Tag a friend you would bring to the show in the comment section on Instagram
Share our giveaway post to your Instagram story (don’t forget to tag us so we can see it!)

Our contest will close on June 29th 2025!

You will not want to miss your chance to be part of this one-of-a-kind show! Tickets are available for purchase at Mothproject.ticketsplease.ca.

QR Code for tickets to the Moth Project, Friends of Murphys Point 30th Anniversary Celebration

Posted in Friends of Murphys Point, Uncategorized | Tagged Friends of Murphys Point Park | Leave a comment

Turtles and Nesting

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Friends of Murphys Point

Hi Everyone,

Turtles all the way down! Throughout this past week, both Sarah and Liam have experienced the opportunity to take part in Turtle Surveying, as we have discovered that the key to winning any race is to be slow and steady. This week, the Turtles have slowly won over our hearts and we will be discussing all things turtles and nesting! Here at Murphys Point, there are a total of 5 different species of Turtles, can you tell the difference?

Painted Turtle

The Painted Turtle is the most commonly seen species at Murphys Point. These medium sized Turtles have a dark colored top shell and a bottom shell that can vary in color depending on the subspecies. They feature red markings along the edges of their shells and typically lay their eggs in sunny, open areas with sandy or loamy soil, about 4 to 10 inches deep. A single nest can hold anywhere from 4 to 14 eggs!

A Painted Turtle retracting into their shell

Northern Map Turtle

The Northern Map Turtle is easily recognized by the distinctive yellow lines on its olive to brown upper shell, which resemble contour lines on a map. These Turtles prefer large bodies of water, often basking near fallen trees or other natural debris. Their nests are usually located in sandy, well-drained areas close to lakes or rivers. Northern Map Turtles typically lay between 9 and 17 eggs in a single nesting season. Additionally, they are the second most commonly observed Turtle species at Murphys Point.

A Northern Map Turtle retracting into their shell

Common Snapping Turtle

Known for being the largest freshwater Turtle in Canada with an upper shell resembling a tan, olive, or black colour typically covered in algae, Common Snapping Turtles are typically found in shallow ponds or streams where there are high levels of aquatic vegetation. This species of Turtle lay a large clutch of eggs ranging from 25 to 45 eggs within open and sandy areas throughout late May and June. Each Common Snapping Turtle egg resembles to around the size of a ping pong ball. This species of Turtle is the third most spotted Turtle at Murphys Point.

A Common Snapping Turtle basking on land

Blanding’s Turtle

The Blanding Turtle is a semi-aquatic species from the Emydidae family. This medium-sized Turtle is easily identifiable by its bright yellow chin and dark black carapace, which is marked with yellow speckled streaks. Blanding Turtles dig nests where they typically lay between 3 and 25 eggs before returning to the water. These nests are often found in sunny, well-drained areas, sometimes quite far from their aquatic habitats. Notably, Blanding Turtles show few signs of aging and are rarely seen at Murphys Point.

A Blanding’s Turtle retracting into their shell

Eastern Musk Turtle

The Eastern Musk Turtle is the last turtle species found at Murphys Point. Belonging to the Kinosternidae family, these small Turtles are usually black, gray, or brown, with a highly domed shell and distinctive yellow and green stripes running from the tip of their nose to their neck. Eastern Musk Turtles typically lay their eggs in shallow, decaying vegetation found under logs or even along road shoulders. Their nests generally contain between 1 and 9 eggs.

An Eastern Musk Turtle crossing over the pavement

Now that you know the difference between the 5 different species of Turtles, we look forward to hearing about your turtle encounters this summer. We absolutely love all of the Turtles here at Murphys Point Provincial Park!