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The McKee Treaty and Local Indigenous History
Heritage Port Stanley Meeting
Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 1:30 PM
Location: Port Stanley United Church
Attendance: 36 (30 members, 6 guests)
1. Call to Order
Chair David Russell opened the meeting at 1:30 PM and welcomed everyone, with a special welcome to John Smith on his return to Port Stanley. Nora Sanders shared the land acknowledgement.
2. Adoption of Minutes
The minutes of the March 26, 2026 meeting were approved as circulated. Motion moved by Nancy Moore and seconded by Laurie Nagge. Carried.
3. Treasurer’s Report
| Account | Amount |
|---|---|
| General Account Balance | $1,702.19 |
| GICs | 2 × $4,000 |
| GICs | 3 × $1,000 |
The report was presented by Anne Kent and adopted as presented. Motion moved by Nancy Moore and seconded by Richard Haddow. Carried.
4. Executive Update
David Russell reported that the incline railway cars will likely be returned to Port Stanley, with the final location still to be determined. He also noted that he and Nora Sanders recently conducted a walking tour.
Nora Sanders shared that the grant application to Central Elgin has been approved for $1,800 (less than the $3,400 requested), and the funds can be used across the proposed heritage initiatives. She also noted that the walking tour is nearly complete.
Anne Kent added that Maureen Jenkins assisted with drawings from photographs, and discussions with the printer have taken place regarding layout. The design will be similar to the Sparta walking tour and is expected to be printed soon.
5. Correspondence
Anne Kent read a thank-you letter from ChildCan acknowledging the $100 donation made in memory of Lin Welsh, wife of Brian Welsh. The letter expressed appreciation and recognized the tribute.
6. June 27 Walking Tours
Sally Martyn reported that six tour guides are confirmed, which is the minimum required, though additional volunteers are encouraged to participate and learn the routes.
The tours will begin at the Kettle Creek Inn and will include three different routes. Sally will remain at the starting point to provide historical context about Port Stanley and Christ Church while groups wait for their tours. The start time is still to be determined.
7. Heritage Question of the Month
Question: There are many theories about the name Kettle Creek and where it came from. What was the creek called before it was called Kettle Creek?
The correct answers were Kanagio (Iroquois), Akeksibi (Ojibwas), and Riviere Tonti (French explorer Chaudière). Joan Clayton and Janice Mann correctly identified all three.
8. Future Meetings
| Date | Location | Topic | Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 28 | The Mill | History of the Mill | John Smith |
| June 25 | Mitchell House | History of the Mitchells | Joan Clayton |
9. Heritage Announcements
Helen Albert has some heritage postcards to share. Barb Cookson suggested including her former home, an important Captain Berry homestead, in the walking tour.
Sally Martyn reminded members about the Historical High Tea and Fashion Show taking place on June 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Sparta Church Museum. Interested attendees can contact her for tickets.
10. Feature Presentation
Presenter: Nora Sanders
Nora began with a 13,000-year-old Paleo-period spearhead discovered by Dave Bolt in 1978 north of Port Stanley. She explained that the area had a sub-arctic climate at the time, with nomadic peoples hunting caribou, small game, and fish. Her research referenced Professor Emeritus Chris Ellis from Western University.
She then discussed the Archaic period, highlighting artifacts brought by John Smith that were initially thought to be arrowheads but were actually Thebes Cluster spear points or knives, as bows and arrows were not yet in use. These artifacts, made from materials such as Onondaga chert and rarer non-local chert, date back as far as 10,500 years.
Moving into the Woodland period (1000–500 BC), Nora showed a stone gorget worn around the neck and a scraping tool from Hope Stock Farm.
Historical accounts were also referenced, including observations by Louis Jolliet in 1669, writings by Anna Jameson in 1838, and the 1895 work Country of the Neutrals by James Coyne.
Nora then discussed the McKee Purchase (Treaty 2), showing maps from 1670 and 1790 outlining the land involved. The treaty was signed by 35 First Nations representatives using their totems.
She provided background on Alexander McKee, noting his role as a trusted intermediary fluent in both English and Indigenous languages.
She concluded with discussion of the arrival of the Oneida people in 1840 and noted that while much has been learned, many historical questions remain unanswered.
11. Adjournment
David Russell thanked Nora Sanders for her engaging presentation. The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 PM.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on May 28 at 1:30 PM at The Mill, 181 Brayside. Carpooling is encouraged, and a shuttle service will be available from Harrison Place.
Secretary: Sally Martyn
Chair: David Russell