Parkdale High Park Taiaiako’n
Taiaiako’n—Parkdale—High Park
Province: Ontario
Population: 117,873
17th Century
Taiaiako’n Established: The Seneca village of Taiaiako’n is established along the Humber River. This site serves as a crucial hub for Indigenous trade and diplomacy, located on the Toronto Carrying-Place Trail, which connects Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe and beyond.
Taiaiakon’ was a large Iroquois village that overlooked the Humber River in the area north of Jane subway station. BabyPoint lies at the center of where the village of Taiaiako’n was located.
The village of Taiaiakon’ thrived in this area long before Europeans arrived. It overlooked what is today known as the Humber River, and extends around Park, near Jane Subway Station, and was occupied by a population of around 5000, and covered around 183 acres, and was a major trade route between the Wendat, the Seneca and the Mohawk.
When Europeans reached the Great lakes in the 1640’s they brought disease with them. The population of the village was drastically reduced and demoralized by these diseases, and was unable to defend itself against a French-led army who burned it to the ground in 1687. The survivors left the area, but never ceded their legal right to the land. Mississauga Indians soon formed a settlement nearby on the other side of the river.
1793
Establishment of York: The founding of York by European settlers increases interest and development in the surrounding lands, including the former site of Taiaiako’n. The strategic importance of the area continues due to its location on key trade routes.
1879
Village of Parkdale Founded: The area is subdivided and officially established as the Village of Parkdale, attracting residents with its accessibility to downtown Toronto by streetcar. Its development marks a shift from a historically significant Indigenous area to a burgeoning urban suburb.
1889
Amalgamation with Toronto: Parkdale is incorporated into the City of Toronto, signifying its transformation from an independent village to an integrated urban community.
1876
Creation of High Park: High Park is created when land is donated to the city by John George Howard. This new green space adjacent to Parkdale highlights the continuing transformation and development of the area while preserving some of its natural landscapes.
Today, we have significant communities from Tibet, Ukraine, the Philippines, and Poland., and smaller First nations populations like Metis and Inuk. The largest group is the Tibetan community, making it one of the foremost Tibetan populations outside of Asia. Following closely are the Ukrainian and Polish communities. The Filipino community and others are contributing to these multicultural identity.
Parkdale High Park Taiaiako’n Languages in 2020:
English: 102,760 (Males: 49,800, Females: 52,965)
French: 16,245 (Males: 7,065, Females: 9,185)
Tagalog: 2,015 (Males: 740, Females: 1,275)
Spanish: 1,835 (Males: 850, Females: 985)
Arabic: 1,155 (Males: 635, Females: 520)
Italian: 1,085 (Males: 505, Females: 580)
Portuguese: 1,030 (Males: 495, Females: 535)
Russian: 1,010 (Males: 470, Females: 540)
Polish: 965 (Males: 450, Females: 515)
Urdu: 705 (Males: 330, Females: 375)
Indigenous Languages:
Algonquian languages: 50 (Males: 20, Females: 25)
Cree-Innu languages: 25 (Males: 20, Females: 0)Cree languages: 25 (Males: 20, Females: 0)Cree, n.o.s.: 20 (Males: 15, Females: 0)
Ojibway-Potawatomi languages: 30 (Males: 0, Females: 20)Ojibway languages: 20 (Males: 0, Females: 20)Ojibway, n.o.s.: 20 (Males: 0, Females: 15)
Alternate spellings: Taiaiagon, Teiaiagon, Teyeyayogon
Would you like to contribute or update this text, feel free to contact us.