Writing on Stone Provincial Park holds the secrets of the past with the largest concentration of native rock art in the North American Plains. As hoodoos and cliffs hover over the Milk River the Blackfoot have a special name Aisinai’pi – “it has been written.”
This is a sacred place where The Blackfoot would visit for vision quests in which was the ultimate test of self-sacrifice for their creator. It is on the cliffs and rocks young men would sit without food, water, or shelter, waiting to be granted a vision of their destiny.
As you climb the rocks and admire the views from the cliffs catching a glimpse of a swooping hawk pouncing on its prey. You can feel a sense of mystery of what was, what is, and what will be in the beautiful setting over the Milk River. The stories that unfold from the pictographs of great battles and symbols of change represent a history that was long before us.
These carvings will be here long after us as time moves forward the mysteries hidden from within the sacred rocks.
Many of the Blackfoot of high stature were buried within the cliffs watching over the river and it is believed the spirits are the creators of the carvings of the rock. They leave small whispers and traces of the past that never will be forgotten. As time moves forward and we make that turn around the bend who knows what whispers will be left as our own mark to future generations.
If you had one symbol that told the story of your life – what would it be?
