Indigenous Ancient Footprints Plaque

In 1908, workers installing a utility tunnel near Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island found up to 100 human footprints impressed in the clay lake bottom approximately 21 metres below the present surface of Lake Ontario. The foot impressions, some apparently wearing moccasins, would have been made by the early Indigenous inhabitants of what is now known as Toronto, dating to between 11,300 and 9,000 years ago. This was the only period since the last glaciation that lake levels would have permitted humans to travel on what is now the lakebed of Lake Ontario.

During this time, the levels of glacial Lake Iroquois, whose northern shoreline extended to the Davenport hill, had dropped dramatically, pushing the shoreline far out into present-day Lake Ontario. It is likely that these footprints were made just prior to the increase in lake levels, approximately 9,000 years ago. If this were the case, the people whose footprints were miraculously preserved were Early Archaic hunter-gatherers, the ancestors of present-day Indigenous people. The footprints appeared to have been made by a family group as some of the prints were child size, possibly travelling to or from hunting or fishing camps along the shoreline.

Unfortunately, the prints were not preserved. The workers continued building the tunnel and destroyed the footprints in the process. Because the prints were lost, it is impossible to say if they were genuine, but experts believe them to have been authentic.

However, these footprints were more than just imprints: they are a testament to the early Indigenous inhabitants’ daily lives, offering insights into their routines, from hunting and fishing to traveling. What makes this find even more intriguing is the presence of child-sized footprints. These suggest the existence of close-knit family groups, painting a vivid picture of families journeying together, perhaps for shared activities like communal hunts or fishing expeditions.

The discovery of the footprints serve as physical evidence of the longstanding presence of Indigenous peoples in the region. For modern Indigenous communities, this reaffirms their ancestral connections to these lands. European colonial settlers often sustained the idea that they were “discovering” or “settling” untouched lands. Findings like these ancient footprints challenge those narratives, reinforcing that the land of modern Toronto has been taken care of by Indigenous communities for thousands of years. The footprints contribute to the broader understanding of Indigenous history in the area. Although the footprints no longer exist, their discovery reflects the region’s deep-rooted Indigenous heritage, reminding us of the traditions, values, and stories that have shaped this area.

Educational tools like this align with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action that involve referencing and studying the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) on the topic of justice and equity (50-52). While the document may not be authored by Indigenous groups, it emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting Indigenous perspectives. While serving as a reference to modern treaties, land claim agreements, and the ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous communities in asserting their rights. This aligns with the TRC’s call to include Indigenous voices in discussions and decisions that impact their communities.