LOCATION: A statue of the legendary Huron-Wendat giant Kitchikewana on the corner of Main Street and Brock Street, Penetanguishene.

The Legend: (Author’s Interpretation)

Long ago, the giant god Kitchikewana fell deeply in love with Wanakita, the beautiful daughter of Musquakie, a northern chief. Believing she would become his wife, Kitchikewana asked Wanakita to marry him. However, she gently refused his proposal because she had already given her heart to another warrior from her tribe. Kitchikewana was devastated. His heartbreak quickly turned to anger, and his terrible rage boiled over. He slammed his enormous hand against the ground with a deafening crash that shook the earth. Birds scattered into the sky, while bears, wolves and other animals fled into the forest to hide. Still overcome with anger, Kitchikewana dug his massive fingers into the land, leaving behind the great bays of the Georgian Bay area. He then gathered an enormous clump of earth, rocks and trees and hurled it far out into the water. The earth broke apart as it fell, creating the thousands of rocky islands now known as Georgian Bay’s famous 30,000 Islands. Exhausted and heartbroken, Kitchikewana walked into the bay and lay down. According to the legend, he fell into an endless sleep, and his enormous body became the land now known as Giant’s Tomb Island.

Wanakita later married the warrior she loved. Years afterward, she travelled to the place now called Penetanguishene to ask Kitchikewana for forgiveness. The sleeping giant did not answer her. Instead, a great forest of pine trees grew across Giant’s Tomb Island, covering his resting place like a green blanket. Some people believe Kitchikewana remains there today, quietly sleeping beneath the trees.