Paddling Baawaating: Indigenous Art and Stories on the Water

On a calm morning in Baawaating—known today as Sault Ste. Marie—the shoreline feels like an open page. Paint & Paddle, Indigenous Art on the Water leads small groups onto the St. Marys River and neighboring islands for four hours of storytelling, hands-on creation, and a slow reconnection to place. The guide is Indigenous-led, centering local history and cultural practice through stories, cedar tea, shared fire, and simple art-making that responds directly to the landscape.

The experience begins with a short paddle from a meeting point in Sault Ste. Marie (meeting point details provided at booking). Paddlers skim a coastline of exposed Precambrian bedrock and jack pine, threading between small granite islands where waves have smoothed ancient surfaces. Guides point out traditional travel routes and explain the role of the locks and rapids in both Indigenous life and industrial history, linking natural features to community memory and the ongoing work of reconciliation.

Key features include sheltered bays that make for calm painting stops, low rocky beaches edged with cedar and birch, and vantage points that look back toward the steel skyline of Sault Ste. Marie. The geology is immediate: rounded granite ledges, glacial striations, and thin soils where hardy plants cling. Wildlife is part of the program—watch for mink along the rocks, ospreys over deep water, and migrating waterfowl in season.

Artists work with water-friendly supplies suitable for outdoor painting; instruction is inclusive, designed for anyone comfortable on water who can walk on uneven terrain. Small fires on shore serve as gathering points for sharing food and cedar tea while guides relate oral histories and place-based knowledge. The itinerary balances movement and stillness—paddling, painting, listening—so visitors leave with a painted piece and a fuller sense of place.

Practical details: the trip runs about four hours and recommends ages 10 and up. Guests should be comfortable near water and able to manage short hikes on natural surfaces. The experience is a meaningful option for travelers interested in Indigenous perspectives, quiet outdoor creativity, and hands-on cultural exchange without lengthy travel. As a program operating in Baawaating, the tour is a notable part of Sault Ste. Marie’s outdoor scene— it brings local history onto the water and reframes familiar views through Indigenous storytelling, making ordinary islands and shorelines memorable.

Expect fickle, Lake Superior–influenced weather: sun, wind, or a sudden shower can arrive within an hour, so layered clothing is essential. Guides practice low-impact ethics—pack out waste, avoid trampling shoreline vegetation, and favor biodegradable art materials. Families and small groups report that combining movement, story, and making yields memorable learning. Whether you come to paint, paddle, or listen, Paint & Paddle provides a compact, well-run outing that leaves a small footprint and a lasting impression.