Two ancient stone spheres were returned to Kettle and Stony Point First Nation on the shores of Lake Huron last Tuesday. These boulders, known as kettles due to their resemblance to cooking pots, are located about 220 kilometers southwest of Toronto. They hold cultural significance for the Anishinaabek people, with Knowledge keepers explaining that Kettle Point beach serves as the nesting place of the Thunderbird, powerful spirits that provide protection and healing rains to communities in exchange for safeguarding their sacred spaces, with the kettles symbolizing the eggs.
Christy Bressette, a member of Kettle and Stony Point and vice-provost for Indigenous initiatives at Western University in London, Ont., played a crucial role in facilitating the return of the kettles from the university’s possession. Bressette emphasized the importance of repatriating sacred items like the Thunderbird eggs, stating that it is a significant step towards further reconciliation. She highlighted the value of sharing Indigenous knowledge as a means to offer sustainable solutions for all, not just Indigenous communities.
The return of the kettles was marked by a pipe ceremony and an honor song, underscoring the spiritual significance of these artifacts. Jordan George, Kettle and Stony Point’s language revitalization and communications co-ordinator, expressed a sense of fulfillment upon their return while acknowledging that this is just the beginning of the journey to repatriate and care for other stones taken from their shores.
Desmond Moser, assistant dean of decolonization in Western’s Faculty of Science, explained that the kettles, being calcite concretions, are prone to cracking when stored outside of water due to the acidic nature of rainwater penetrating small fractures. These unique rocks, formed around 370 million years ago during the Devonian period, hold both geological and cultural significance.
The ceremony served as a learning opportunity for the scientific community, as Moser admitted they were unaware of the kettles’ cultural importance and the taboo against their removal. The event fulfilled a long-held desire for community elders like David Cloud, who grew up learning about the Thunderbird eggs and now looks forward to sharing these teachings with the younger generation in the community.