Feature Article
August 12, 2004

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Twenty-five years ago, in the small community of Ardoch, a dramatic struggle began when a commercial harvester licensed by the province of Ontario, put his boat into the water at Mud Lake, an aptly named bulge in the Mississippi River, and took the wild rice that had been cared for by the Aboriginal community for over 130 years.

The struggle continued for years, and involved confrontations with the OPP by people of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and their Allies. Non-native members of the local community also joined in the fight to protect the wild rice stands. In the end the province backed down and the rice has been a public resource ever since.

In commemoration, an all-day celebration of the successful resolution of the struggle will take place in Ardoch and Plevna on Saturday, August 21.

In the morning, a ceremony will take place on the Ardoch Road near Road 506 at the Mississippi-Ardoch bridge. A turn off has been built at the bridge and a plaque has been affixed to a large rock, donated by the OMYA Corporation. The ceremony will begin with a performance by the OPP aboriginal drummers at 11:00 a.m.

The performance itself will mark the changes that have taken place in Ontario, since it was OPP officers who faced down aboriginal protesters at that same spot on another August morning almost a quarter of a century ago. Speakers at the ceremony will include National Chief Dwight A. Dorey of the Congress of Aboriginal People, and Grand Chef Earl Commanda of the Anishnabek Nation-Union of Ontario Indians.

Starting at about 1:00, events will get underway in and around the Clar/Mil hall on Buckshot road in Plevna. There will be an afternoon Pow Wow with traditional dancing and drumming. There will be craft vendors, a barbeque, games for children, and many other activities, including a demonstration of how wild rice is prepared. In the evening there will be a Country dance with live entertainment, including a performance by Neville Wells, the Gorr family (Mountain Music) Harold and Neil Perry and others.

It will be fitting that Harold Perry will be playing at the concert. It was Harold, now the honorary chief of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Allies, who tended the Wild Rice before and after commercial operators attempted to harvest the crop. Harold’s grandmother originally brought the rice to Ardoch from Alderville, on Rice Lake, and Harold’s father saved the rice patch from a threat by pesticides which were applied by Ontario Hydro in the mid 1960’s. It was in Harold’s house, located within sight of the bridge, that all of the organising to save the rice patch and to set up the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation took place.

A large number of people from across Ontario, including many dancers and performers, are expected to come to the celebration. The public is welcome to the Wild Rice Commemoration, native and non-native alike, to celebrate the coming together of communities that took place at Ardoch a generation ago.

At the end of their pamphlet publicising the celebration, the Ardoch Algonquins say “we want to recognise the many Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people who gave of themselves both during the struggle and to support our community afterwards.”

All of the events on August 21 are suitable for the entire family, and no drugs, alcohol or pets are permitted, but do bring a lawn chair.