First published: 30/01/25.

Gablabcebu 2.0

Writing-On-Stone / Áísínai’Pi

Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi (Inscribed)

Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi by GabLabCebu

I guess this may just be the perspective of someone who was unable to go on a guided tour here (due to scheduling, so try to be here in the morning), but I found Writing-on-Stone to be not too outstanding of a cultural WHS, but just deserving enough. Without the tour, one can only really observe the rock art by walking the Hoodoo Trail. Even then, spotting a glyph is challenging, even with the guidebook telling you exactly what to look out for. There were a couple that I couldn't see no matter how much I stared at every inch of the rock face. I'll echo the thought of Frédéric that Stop 7 was the clearest example on the trail, and the only one I can still remember vividly months later other than the battle scene. Even then, the quality of the art is nothing to be 'writing-to-home' about. The petroglyphs simply stand as testament to the resilience of the Blackfoot in the constantly changing times. Throw in the lovely scenery of the hoodoos and the Milk River, and one can understand why the Blackfoot saw this place as sacred ground. It's worth the long journey, hours away from any cities. I visited in July 2024, and it was really hot even past 18:00 in the evening. And though there were many rattlesnake warnings, I learned later that those in the Canadian prairies are a lot less dangerous, venomous, and aggressive than their southern counterparts, so don't fear too much as you walk among the hoodoos and trust that the snakes want to avoid us as much as we want to avoid them.

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