The Land Beneath My Feet

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Originally published in TEACH Magazine, 100 Years of the Williams Treaties Special Issue, 2023

By Drew Hayden Taylor

I am from a place called Curve Lake First Nation. It’s located deep in the nether regions of the Kawartha Lakes area in Ontario. In some ways, my home is an odd place.

Technically you’d have a difficult time finding an actual lake called Curve Lake. I believe, and I could be wrong, that the name is a reference to how the lakes that border the land curve around it, creating a peninsula—those specific lakes being Buckhorn and Chemong Lake. About a hundred years or so ago, the community and Chemong Lake were called Mud Lake. Not quite as attractive a name. Thus the change, one would assume. And who knows, in today’s climate, there might be a lot less mud in the lake.

Names aside, that is where I come from, and currently still reside. Just ask around. People will tell you where I live. Specifically, I still occupy the house my mother scraped enough money together to pay for. I’ve been under that roof since bell bottom jeans were in fashion (the first time around).

Back in the 1970s, CBC shot a one-hour television drama here. It was quite exciting. But usually Curve Lake is a quiet, practically boring community. Most of my childhood was spent waiting for something to happen. At least, that’s what I remember.

But on occasion, things do happen in and around Curve Lake that have an oddly disproportionate effect on the area, and to a lesser extent, the entire country.

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Drew Hayden Taylor was born, raised, and still lives in Curve Lake First Nation, located in Central Ontario. It’s easy to find, just go to the centre of the universe and you’re there.

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Drew Hayden Taylor
Drew Hayden Taylor
Drew Hayden Taylor was born, raised, and still lives in Curve Lake First Nation, located in Central Ontario. It’s easy to find, just go to the centre of the universe and you’re there.

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