The Legend of the Sleeping Giant of Thunder Bay
On
the north shores of Lake Superior is the town of Thunder Bay. Across
the shore is a 32-km long peninsula (now Sibley Provincial Park) which
rears up into the mighty cape known as the Sleeping Giant. It requires
no imagination to see this form which resembles the sleeping body of
a giant, arms folded across his massive chest. This giant is over 300
meters high and 11 km long. It lies practically in the center of North
America.
The land was once occupied by a great tribe of Ojibway. One legend is that because of their loyalty to their Gods, and their peaceful and industrious ways, Nanabijou, the Spirit of the Deep Sea Water, decided to reward them. One day the Chief was called to the mountain and told of the site of a great silver mine and was led to the entrance of a tunnel that led him to the center of the mine. A warning was given that if the secret was told to the white man, Nanabijou would be turned to stone and the Ojibway tribe would perish. The Silver Islet Mine became Canada's first major source of silver. The vertical vein was discovered in 1868 and more than $3,000,000 worth of ore was mined before 1884. When the shaft reached a depth of over 450 meters it became impossible to keep the water out and it was abandoned. [City of Thunder Bay's website]
It is also said that the Ojibway considered "Nanabozho" their trickster hero who was "more than human" and who, among many other accomplishments, refashioned the world after the Flood. He is thought to be sleeping and, as in many cultures, at the appointed time will rise from his sleep, punish his enemies, reward his friends and bring great happiness. [Mysterious Canada, J.R. Colombo, 1988]
(picture source: http://www.thunderbay.ca/index.cfm?fuse=html&pg=293 )