Introducing White Pine Lodge Algonquin

Hello/Sge:no/Bienvenue! We are White Pine Lodge Algonquin and we are very excited to officially open in the fall of this year. We would like to take this opportunity before we open to introduce ourselves and explain how we chose the name for White Pine Lodge Algonquin:

White pine trees are the tallest trees in Ontario (normal growth is at least 40m tall) and are easily identified at a distance by their long light feathery needles. White pine trees are also lighter in colour and less coarse looking than the red pine tree. Up close you may identify that white pine needles come in clusters of five, vs clusters of 2 for the red pine, jack pine, and scots pine. There’s no other tree that says “Algonquin” quite like the white pine.

When we were choosing a name for our business we also knew we needed to choose a name that reflects the values and mission of the business and holds Indigenous significance in itself. In this instance, white pine trees came up again because to the Iroquois or Haudenosaunee people the white pine tree is known as the tree of peace. This comes from the story of the Peacemaker and his role in creating the five nation confederacy among the Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca and Oneida (originally the confederacy consisted of the five nations and later the Tuscarora also took protection under the confederacy). At one time these nations were warring with each other until the Peacemaker united them. In the story, they uprooted a white pine tree which left a gaping hole and the chiefs and warriors threw their weapons into an underground stream below the tree that carried the weapons away. The tree was lifted back upright and the Peacemaker said that the chiefs will stand on earth like the tree, rooted deeply in the land with strong trunks and equal height (to have equal authority) in order to protect their people with the power of “a good mind” and not physical force. On the top of the tree sits an eagle that serves as a protector of the peace. The white pine tree is a metaphor for how peace can grow if it is nurtured and protected.

And finally, as we progress through each step of our journey we are cognizant of the choices we make and their impact on the environment. We feel the need to protect this landscape and advocate for its wellbeing. The white pine tree also serves as a symbol to remind ourselves to preserve this landscape so that we can enjoy it for generations to come. At one time, white pine trees in Ontario seemed to be in endless abundance, until the 17 and 1800’s when the supply in this region was used up far too quickly for the construction of houses, barns, and ship masts for the British Royal Navy. The reason the white pine tree was so sought after for lumber production was its long, straight wood grain, which would remain strong even if cracked. Also, unlike other hardwoods such as cherry, maple, and oak, it could still be processed in a mill up to a year after being cut down without cracking. When left alone, white pine trees are expected to live for up to 450 years, and Bill Cole, a scientist from the Ontario Forest Research Institute, has reported evidence of white pines in Algonquin Park that are capable of living for over 500 years. Today, white pines are a protected species in Canada and very few people have the rights to harvest them.

It was with all of this thought that we felt White Pine Lodge Algonquin would be the right name for our business and represented our visions and passion for the landscape, the people, and the culture of the various Indigenous groups of Canada. Thank you, nya:weh and merci, we hope to host you soon!