Calls for improved security after totem pole stolen from former Tamaracouta Scout Reserve

A totem pole, carved by a Chief Mungo Martin of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation in B.C. more than 70 years ago, was recently stolen.

Ever since the Tamaracouta Scout Reserve in Mille-Isles closed in 2018, it has had to deal with partiers, squatters and vandalism. Most recently, a totem pole, carved by a Chief Mungo Martin of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nation in B.C. more than 70 years ago, was stolen.

“It’s like a punch to the gut,” laments Rick Moffat, a volunteer with the Tamaracouta Lake Association. He and other locals carry badges, allowing them to make regular patrols of the camp property.

In late April, some of the volunteers noticed the totem was missing from the camp.

“Now there’s just this bare, cold, naked, flagpole,” said Moffat. “It was bolted on with two bolts, and it was all too easy to take and to steal.”

Moffat says the totem was commissioned by a local family after WWII, and for decades it stood in downtown Montreal, outside of the Scouting headquarters. The Totem ended up at the camp, for its 100th anniversary.

In a statement to CTV News, Scouts Canada confirmed “that several items of historical and cultural significance were discovered missing from Tamaracouta Scout Reserve over the weekend of April 18–20. Among the items reported stolen are a totem pole carved by renowned Kwakwaka’wakw artist Chief Mungo Martin, commemorative plaques, and other artifacts tied to Scouting history.

We take this matter seriously and filed a report with the regional MRC police authority [Surete du Quebec]. While the incident has been officially documented, an active investigation is not underway due to the lack of a defined timeline for when the theft occurred. We encourage anyone with relevant information to contact the MRC directly.”

Camp Tamaracouta opened in the Laurentians in 1912 and was one of the oldest continuously operating Scout camps in North America. It closed in 2018, with Scouts Canada citing financial difficulties.

Moffat calls the level of security at the camp since its closure ‘atrocious’. There main gates have locks, and another entrance has a rope tied to garbage cans. There are no-trespassing signs, but Moffat says it does little to deter people from entering the grounds.

“My concern is, why wasn’t the totem pole put in a secure location when the camp was closed?” wonders former camp employee Charlie MacLeod. He’s among those calling for improved security at the camp.

Last year, a fire destroyed the camp’s main lodge.

MacLeod, who is also the president of the Green Coalition, worries the next fire will destroy a lot more than just one building.

“If a forest fire breaks out there, there’s only a handful of citizens on the lake itself that can monitor this.”

When asked if it had plans to improve security at the camp, Scouts Canada responded to CTV News with a list of measures:

“TSR is actively monitored as part of our ongoing risk management approach. A camp warden conducts regular on-site inspections, and we’ve implemented preventative measures including security gates and enhanced signage. We’ve also partnered with the Residents’ Association to establish a “Friends of Tamaracouta” group, who help maintain community presence on the property. In periods of heightened activity, we deploy additional security resources as appropriate.”

Though local residents say the safety measures don’t appear to have changed since the theft.

The camp was put up for sale in 2023 and Scouts Canada says there is a prospective buyer, but wouldn’t comment further.

While Moffat says the uncertain future of the property is concerning to may locals, in the short term they just want to see the Totem returned safely.

“It’s meant to connect us with nature. the birds, the animals, the trees, the forest, you and me. So, please bring back our totem.”