These photographs are extracts from a photobook of the landscape of Canadian Shield along the Gatineau River Valley in Quebec (just north of Ottawa, Canada’s capital).  The Gatineau River Valley is in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe (Algonquin) First Nation who called the river Tenàgàdino Zìbì. A source of lucrative furs during the era of New France, other European colonial settlers began arriving in the region in the early 1800’s.

Nestled up against the Canadian Shield, settlers eked out living and left many traces on the Gatineau hills as they transformed the landscape for farming, logging, mining, hydroelectricity and tourism.

Given the natural beauty of the Gatineau River Valley and its popularity for tourism, some may be shocked to see these many scars on the face of Mother Nature while others would see the tenacity, resilience, perseverance and ingenuity of the settlers.

This photobook captures some examples of how settlers scraped away at the Canadian Shield as they transformed the Gatineau River Valley for farming settlements, mining operations, hydro-electric dams, and tourism. It also shows the indelible impact of the Canadian winter on the landscape and the current ongoing transformation of the Valley.

Each image captured by André Michel has been the inspiration for a photosculpture that is part of an upcoming exhibition. The photosculptures can be seen below.