The Magpie & The Buffalo Treaty
A new piece of art in Gold Bar Park by Indigenous artist Matthew James Weigel was recently celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The piece was commissioned by Epcor and installed at the new ambient air quality monitoring station in the park. The viewer is invited to walk around the artwork and think about the following story.
Since time immemorial, magpies and buffalo have lived together in a symbiotic relationship, a treaty. Magpies act as an alarm, a companion, and eater of pests that might harm the buffalo. Buffalo act as a protector, a companion, and food source by kicking up insects for the magpies to eat as they disturb the ground while they walk.
As the buffalo migrate back and forth across the Great Plains, the magpies follow along with them on the journey. In this place, at this river, the magpies and buffalo would gather until it was safe to cross together and continue their migration.
The magpies remember the treaty and they honour it by remembering and waiting here for their companions to return. This is why there are so many magpies here. They wait, and they remember, and they share this story with us until the buffalo return home. More at https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/community-artworks-unveiled-in-city-parks-saturday-1.6063732
Ortona Arts Armoury used to be a naval base
The Ortona Armoury building in Rossdale is undergoing construction and rehabilitation work. For the last 30 years, the building has been used as studio space for artists/arts groups who have tenancy agreements with the City. In 2004, the building was designated as a Municipal Historic Resource which legally protects it from demolition or alterations to the structure.
In 1913, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) sold 75% of its property in Edmonton, keeping only one corner lot and one adjoining lot. They built brick stables and a warehouse, south of which was a pasture for delivery horses. From 1924 to 1927 the Edmonton Pure Butter Company operated here and in 1925 produced over 750,000 pounds of butter.
The HBC stables and warehouse building were sold to the Department of National Defense for $1 shortly after the outbreak of WWII. The buildings were converted into office space and training facilities for use by the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1941 the base was named HMCS Nonsuch, in tribute to the legendary role played by the Nonsuch in 1668 in the establishment of the HBC,
In 1964 Federal budget cuts closed HMCS Nonsuch. In 1965 the building was renamed the Ortona Armouries to commemorate The Loyal Edmonton Regiment’s battle during WWII in the Italian town of Ortona. Text from Living in the Shed by Billie Milholland, published by the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance https://archive.org/details/livinginshedalbe00milh/
First Nations people used this plant’s roots to make medicine washes
Canada Anemone, a member of the buttercup family, is a native plant that can occupy a wide range of habitats. A vigorous grower, it is not considered an invasive but can rapidly spread. Its underground rhizome system, which offer some soil stabilization, will stretch to encompass large areas. If not managed, it will take over your yard.
A robust perennial with deeply lobed, basal leaves and an upright, 1-2 ft. stem bearing a single whorl of 3- to 5-parted leaves. A solitary white flower with a golden center, springs from the leaf whorl. As clumps become crowded, flowering may decrease. If this occurs, divide the plants in the fall.
When the roots and leaves are heated or dried, they become a powerful antiseptic that was highly valued by First Nations people in treating wounds, haemorrhaging and eye infections. But be careful as it is toxic, can cause severe skin or intestinal irritation, and is also avoided by herbivores as a food source. More at https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=anca8
Photo by K. Edwards who adds “I walk the river valley every day between Rossdale, across the new Tawatina bridge and returning on the south trial system. I am shocked at the destruction by local beavers. I understand they are part of the natural ecology of the river valley, however big, beautiful trees that hamper erosion, create shade, and beautify the river valley are taken down at record pace. Since the photo was taken, the city has covered the bases of many trees in the area.”
Comment or contribution
Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the wide variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley. Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712
