​The Prophecy of the Seven Fires

As we mark National Indigenous Peoples Day, I find myself reflecting on questions that have followed me for many years: How do we move forward when we have left so much unfinished behind us? How do we rebuild a country that is fair for all? When will Canada honestly recognize all that Indigenous Peoples have contributed to the founding of Canada? When will people embrace the Anishinabek principles of kinship, and land stewardship that honours seven generations. 

The Anishinaabe prophecy of the Seven Fires is an apt teaching for this time, where we as human beings find ourselves at a crossroad. We have been led to this crossroad from a long journey through the industrial era, where we extracted natural resources and sold them to generate wealth. We have done this to the point where we are facing a planetary existential crisis that is fueled by increased resource extraction, water loss, climate instability and biodiversity loss. If we take the road we are on, we will continue to exacerbate the devastation. But if we choose the road that has been abandoned, it could lead us to a better place.

This crisis of choice was prophesied by the Anishinaabe in the Seven Fires teaching which told us we would reach a time where people would come together and choose between the two roads.  One road is well-worn and familiar: the road of domination, greed, extraction, and forgetting our shared history. The other road is less travelled but ancient; the road of Spirit, of right relationship, of living in a good way with the Land, Waters and with each other. It is a teaching that calls out to us all to get back on the good road.  Guiding tools such as the Dish With One Spoon, the Covenant Chain, and the Seven Grandfather Gifts, shared in treaty, can help us to get back there.  The Seventh Fire teaching is not only a lesson but an invitation. 

And right now, at this moment, Canada and others are racing to extract their way out of an economic crisis, in a world that is burning and flooding.  The climate is tossing us around on this planet like the ants that we are.  The pressure to develop markets and resources is panicked and chaotic and happening in a way that is not respecting our kin, not respecting our relationships and responsibilities to care for each other and the planet.  This is moving at a pace we can barely comprehend. 

Somewhere in this chaos, we need to stop and ground ourselves in fundamental truths.  Like the truth that we are ants and not giants with dominion over all things.  The truth is that we are the ecosystem.  We are not outside it, or above it, but in it, as is taught to us by the teaching of Ginawaydagunc, an Algonquin word meaning “all life is connected.”  I believe the time is now for us to remember the thousands of years of wisdom that were laid down before 1492. 

We must grace ourselves with the time to stop and reflect and learn from all those who came before us.  We must seek out the wisdom of their experience and advice to take the next careful steps forward in the right direction.  The Seventh Fire is being lit, and we need to gather around it and begin a new relationship with each other and with all our relations. The invitation is to come to a sacred fire together and hold council with each other, so that we can find a better way. 

Looking Back to Look Forwards: RCAP Three Decades On

Thirty-one years ago, something remarkable happened in this country. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) offered Canada a roadmap. It was one of the most comprehensive examinations ever undertaken into the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canada. After years of testimony from Indigenous peoples from coast to coast to coast — Elders, leaders, mothers, survivors, land keepers — RCAP released its final report. With five volumes containing 440 recommendations, the RCAP report laid out a path toward renewed nation-to-nation relationships, Indigenous self-determination, land stewardship, governance, economic justice, and reconciliation. RCAP said that Indigenous Peoples' connection to their Land is the foundation of healthy communities, healthy ecosystems, and a healthy country for everyone. RCAP recognized that the Land and the People are inseparable.  

The lessons of caring for land as an inseparable part of the land are gifts that our forebearers left us.  The teachings, ethics, principles and guidance of the original land stewards are gifts that we all need now to carry us into the future. RCAP captured those stories and those lessons for us.  It’s time to dust off those volumes and find our roadmap. 

As Canada evolves its approach to its relationship with Indigenous Peoples, it has made progressive steps by implementing Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and recommendations from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIWG).  These progressive steps, though meaningful, do not address the fundamental things that must be changed because Canada is still failing to demonstrate meaningful respect for Indigenous jurisdiction and Indigenous sovereignty.  Canada must also reach back to the recommendations of RCAP to move forward to a fair and just country. This is what distinguishes Canada from other colonial powers.  Canada has a willingness to achieve fairness and seeks to be just.  The reimagining of Canadian identity cannot happen without reimagining the relationship Canada has with the original Nations. 
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Yet here we stand, thirty-one years later, at a crossroad.  In this moment Canada has passed Bill C-5 to fast-track resource extraction, offered loan guarantees as a substitute for land rights, and rebranded colonial assimilation as "economic reconciliation." New resource corridors are being proposed. Indigenous Nations are being invited to participate in projects that will shape the future of this country. At the same time, many of the fundamental questions RCAP raised remain unresolved:

• Who has jurisdiction over the lands and waters?
• How do we reconcile Canada's sovereignty claims with the pre-existing sovereignty of Indigenous Nations?
• How do we move beyond consultation toward true nation-to-nation relationships?
• How do we ensure that future generations inherit healthy lands, healthy communities, and healthy relationships?

These are not historical questions. They are the questions of our time. We cannot build a just future on the same deficient foundation. We cannot get anywhere in a vehicle with a flat tire. We cannot achieve true reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples when the Canadian Constitution fails to honestly recognize the original Nations who co-existed on this land before confederation. These are the Nations Canada signed treaties with. These are the Nations whose knowledge, governance, and relationships with the land are among the most powerful tools we have against the planetary crisis we are all facing.

The map RCAP laid out still exists. The question now is, are we ready to use it?

Implementing RCAP: What Fires Were Never Fully Tended?

The RCAP commissioners saw what was coming. They told us that when Indigenous Peoples are separated from their lands, this leads to cultural loss, food insecurity, mental health crises, and environmental destruction. They told us that without Indigenous jurisdiction, without recognition of sovereign governance, without the sacred teachings and cultural practices in place we would keep producing conflict instead of peaceful coexistence.

We are seeing the impact of Mother Earth out of balance: the planet is warming, the forests are burning, rains and weather are less predictable and more extreme, the fisheries are collapsing and biodiversity is disappearing faster than our children can learn the names of what's being lost. Indigenous communities are still fighting for clean water, for land rights, for the right to raise their children in their own languages and traditions. This is not an accident, but a predictable outcome of a failure to act.

But here is what the RCAP report also told us: Indigenous peoples are not the problem to be managed. They are the knowledge-holders, the land stewards, the governance innovators we desperately need. Indigenous-led stewardship of territories leads to healthier ecosystems, greater biodiversity, and measurable progress on climate action. Indigenous governance systems, built through thousands of years of living in reciprocal relationship with the land, hold answers that no government taskforce will ever invent.

Across Turtle Island, Indigenous Nations are advancing Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, Guardians programs, land-based education, language revitalization, regenerative economies, and new models of stewardship rooted in ancient responsibilities and contemporary realities. The future is already emerging.

But before we rush forward, we must pause long enough to look back: What did RCAP tell us? What recommendations were implemented? What was ignored? What lessons remain waiting for us? And perhaps most importantly: What fires were never fully tended?

We know what needs to be done and we have known for thirty-one years.

The Path Forward
Over the coming months, a growing circle of Indigenous leaders, Elders, youth, Knowledge Holders, land stewards, policy leaders, researchers, artists, community builders, and allies will be beginning a journey, brought together through Indigenous Action Canada, Plenty Canada, the RAD Network, and Wahkohtowin Development. We are calling it RCAP 31: Rekindling the Fire, Renewing the Relationship. This is a journey of listening, learning, and gathering to revisit the legacy of RCAP and explore what its unfinished work means in a time of climate disruption, biodiversity loss, growing uncertainty, and renewed Indigenous resurgence. We invite you to join us.

In the lead up we are convening listening conversations and working groups. We are creating resources so that more people can understand what RCAP actually said, and what it would mean to finally act on it. Together we will revisit the legacy of RCAP and explore what its unfinished work means in this time, when Canada is reimagining itself in this new uncertain world.

We are bringing together the voices of the Commissioners who served on RCAP — the people who gave testimonies, who wrote those recommendations — with the Indigenous leaders who are building the movements of today: the IPCAs, the regenerative economies, the nation-to-nation governance that is emerging despite every obstacle. We are coming together in ceremony and in council. The gathering point is a half-day session at the Indigenous Lands Symposium in March 2027. We are Calling the Fires Together. This is a gathering for intergenerational knowledge transfer, for strategic reflection, for honest conversation about where we are and where we need to go. It is the Seventh Fire made visible.

The road forward is not only for Indigenous Peoples to walk. It is for everyone who lives on this Land, who benefits from it, who wants to leave something worth living in for the generations to come. The direction on the path will be Indigenous-led but all the people of the world need to travel the path together.  

RCAP showed us the way. The TRC deepened the call. UNDRIP set the international standard. Environmentally, Indigenous Peoples provided Indigenous leadership in developing the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, currently guiding the world in addressing biodiversity loss. Indigenous leadership has been integral to global climate change efforts as well. What we have not yet done — what this moment demands — is for us to act with the urgency and the seriousness that the situation requires.

The Seventh Fire prophecy tells us that the choice between the two roads will not wait forever. Mother Earth will cleanse herself and is in the process. The time for gathering, for rekindling, for choosing — is now.

Ways to Get Involved

We are calling for you to be part of this path.  Here are ways we can journey together before a special half-day gathering at the Indigenous Lands Symposium in Ottawa in March 2027 to light the Fires together.

• Learn: Dig into the RCAP report. Understand what was recommended and what has been left undone. We are developing accessible public education materials to make this knowledge easier to hold and share. READ HERE. 
• Connect: Join our listening conversations: 
  • Sign up for the RAD Network Newsletter (and the Plenty Canada newsletter if you haven't already)
  • Participate in the upcoming RAD Full Moon gatherings
  • Listen to the RAD Story Lodge which will host an RCAP specific conversation 
• Come to the fire: Join us at the half-day session at the Indigenous Lands Symposium in March 2027. Bring your organization, your community, your questions, your commitment. RSVP HERE.

The roadmap has been waiting for thirty-one years. Let us gather in kinship, each bringing our own flame and let’s light the council fires together. 

All my relations.


Lorraine Rekmans is an Indigenous rights advocate, former Executive Director of the National Aboriginal Forestry Association, and longtime voice for constitutional reform and the recognition of Indigenous sovereignty in Canada.
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This blog post is published in partnership with Indigenous Action Canada, Plenty Canada, and RAD Network.
 

The Niagara Geopark, now known as Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Global Geopark, and Plenty Canada have embarked on a transformative partnership to revitalize Indigenous trails and cultural heritage across the Niagara region. This initiative aims to integrate Indigenous knowledge, history, and environmental stewardship into the region's tourism and educational offerings. The project is supported by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), and the James A. Burton & Family Foundation.

At the heart of this collaboration is the development of the Niagara Geopark Trail Network, which seeks to highlight both existing and historical Indigenous trails. Plenty Canada, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization, plays a pivotal role in identifying these routes, including ancient pathways that predate the formation of Lake Ontario. The project also focuses on significant sites such as former encampments of the Neutral Nation, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the region's Indigenous history.

To enrich the visitor experience, the partnership has launched the AI Trail Explorer—a digital platform that provides personalized trail suggestions, cultural site details, and real-time trail updates. Designed for versatility, the tool integrates seamlessly with major GPS navigation apps and functions offline, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of users.

As a result of this technological advancement, The Great Niagara Escarpment Indigenous Cultural Map will be upgraded to include the AI Trail Explorer. This integration will expand public access to the platform and enhance its use as a valuable educational resource.

The project includes the installation of educational and interpretive signage throughout the trail network. These signs aim to educate visitors about Indigenous history, culture, and the significance of various sites within the Niagara region.
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This collaboration serves as a model for sustainable and inclusive tourism by integrating Indigenous perspectives into environmental conservation and education. The project not only preserves and promotes Indigenous heritage but also fosters economic opportunities for Indigenous communities through tourism.
As the Niagara Geopark and Plenty Canada continue to develop and expand this initiative, they set a precedent for how regions can honor Indigenous histories and cultures while promoting sustainable tourism and education through co-governance.

Plenty Canada is dedicated to bringing together Indigenous and western knowledge systems for the protection and restoration of Indigenous cultures and communities. We believe that as Native communities strengthen and thrive, the whole world benefits.

Our commitment is to the Indigenous spirit of cultural revitalization and to the building of economic capacity within our communities. As an Indigenous-led organization, we recognize that humans are one species among many; we are guided by natural law to care for our children and to consider our responsibilities to the next seven generations.

Throughout the Western Hemisphere, Indigenous communities have focused on improving the dire economic circumstances facing their peoples. A strong call for community leadership focuses on strengthening local self-sufficiency in agriculture, traditional health and economic potential. The idea is to restrengthen the Native communities’ cultural and economic self-determination.

Problem: impacts from climate change are leading to shifting rain patterns that exacerbate heat and drought seasons. The issues of water, its catchment, utilization and eco-enhancing drainage, are paramount. Native farming communities have asked for assistance in accessing solution-oriented sources and resources.  

Indigenous agricultural development supports many productive traditional skills useful to communities of people. Indigeneity appreciates and values the home medicinal knowledge, including the traditional midwifery, as well as healing practices of herbal and massage-bone-structure (“hueseros”) practitioners.  The ancestral weaving is particularly strong among our partnering communities in Guatemala and Peru. One focus: Indigenous culinary skills—the culture of “from the garden to the table.” Self-reliant traditional and contemporary crafts, such as basketry and ceramics, sewing and embroidery in the production of wearables, all useful skills that build community.

Maya Guatemala: Culture-Weaving Our People

Maya-Guatemala—a Plenty Canada partner—supports the work of people who uphold the preservation of cultural values and traditional knowledge. Dozens of elder women of the Maya Q’eqchi’ people, traditional weavers, are teaming up with young women to safeguard that ancestral knowledge, “uniting in defense of our beliefs and values that roots us in our Mother Earth, the Mountains and even the cosmos,” according to Maria Leonor Teni de Leon (Maya-Q’eqchi’), project director.

They are reweaving the family networks within that ancestral tradition. Their indigenous way of resilience restrengthens kinship relations that are guided by reciprocity. Catalina Xo, a community elder and leader, expressed that the weaving tradition in itself is a way of life. “The more ancient weaving patterns carry stories and symbols important to our people,” said Catalina.

Among the elder weavers are midwives and healers of various types, many with important traditional culinary skills. The younger women assist their elders in their daily work in the corn and bean gardens, in the gathering and preparation of medicinal plants.

“We take stock of our elders and can see that many are marginalized, the older women, many widowed; these are our treasures and they are often living in severe poverty with very poor housing,” said Teni.

Climate change is felt. Hurricanes cause widespread flooding, damaging the foundations of many houses. The project’s work in home repairs revealed a serious need of upgraded water management, as contamination was impacting health in the communities. The project has organized an active, community-based team of workers, engineers and others working successfully on these water issues.

Director Leonor’s circle trained in available traditional and contemporary technologies for house construction using local materials and sustainability skills.  The specialized team has gathered impressive expertise in appropriate and indigenous construction of superlative water catchment and drainage systems.

Andean Mountains: A Quechua Community Reaches Out

Near Cuzco, heart of Indigenous Peru, Plenty Canada partners with a Quechua ancestral community of considerable traditional leadership value. Master weavers and artisans, this Quechua community of llama herders and potato farmers, leads a valley of communities in the famed Potato Park of Andean Peru. Elders strongly guard their traditional institutions, particularly, the ancient Council of Elders called Wachu, which conducts community feasts and ceremonies. A treasure of ancient wisdom, this Andean Indigenous (“originario”) community safeguards several important ancient sites, dated at 5,000 years or more. Quechua speakers, they are expert farmers, and the traditional Andean reciprocity system, or Ayni, continues to be an intricate part of the culture.

More recently, Chawaytiri has prepared housing and activities for receiving visitors and tourists seeking to immerse in a genuine and participatory Andean experience. “Come visit with our Indigenous people,” says Elder Lucio Ylla Mesa, “Our old ways are still important, and good for us.”

Caribbean Indigenous: Traditional Communities Cuba 

Plenty Canada’s “Caribbean Indigeneity—Values and Knowledge,” is based in the remote mountain and coastal region of eastern Cuba. It partners with communities of Taino-guajiro (rural) Indigenous families under the leadership of a traditional cacique (chief), women elders, and a new generation of leaders. 

Cuba’s Indigenous population has been marginalized from contemporary history, even considered extinct in many national histories. In fact, it has been ‘hiding in plain sight,’ and it is now re-emerging and reconnecting as an extended Native community of related families.

Since 1974, Francisco (Panchito) Ramírez, elder of this core community of Cuban Indian people, at Caridad de los Indios, Guantanamo Province, has led his people to “reweave” the families, to unite once again. 

The Gran Familia people, marginalized through most of the 20th century, are now in a serious process of self-actualization. The main objective of our project is to assist this self-actualization. 

Carib Community: Canoe as a Way of Life

For Plenty Canada’s Kaligano (Carib) partners in the Caribbean island of Dominica, the art of canoe making provides a living and it is a way of life.

Plenty supports Kaligano Elders, expert fishermen, who are committed to passing on the complex set of skills required. From the selection of proper trees and their ceremonial cutting, to the skill-sensitive methods for carving, firing and cooling, much culture passes in shaping and presenting a sea-worthy canoe. The young people are enthusiastic and elders are working confidently teaching the tradition to a new generation.

Good Mind Grappling

Twin wrestlers from Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation, national Canadian champions Phillip and Thomas Barreiro, use the Art of Grappling to promote self-esteem and mutual empathy among First Nations youth in several communities.
“Plenty Canada’s work in Canada includes supporting the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network and the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network to ensure that Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge systems are included in achieving shared goals and maintaining the UNESCO standards.”

“Please assist Plenty Canada by supporting its vital work. To learn more and to donate, visit www.plentycanada.com/donate.” 

Contact Plenty Canada at: [email protected] and (613) 278-2215.

- Global Heroes

How it is we go about our work

Being the newly elected president of the Board of Directors of Plenty Canada is a serious responsibility. Anyone who becomes involved with an organization, particularly those in the not-for-profit sector, must believe in what the organization stands for and what it does. I can state quite emphatically that I’m deeply appreciative of the earnest and positivistic traditions that Plenty Canada is built upon and the significant work that is accomplishes to live up to its principles and values each and every year, throughout its long history.

​This past year has been remarkable in many ways. Plenty Canada has numerous projects and partnerships underway, but one project that I would like to highlight is the epic effort our team, in tandem with the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network, put forward to complete the periodic review that secured another ten years for UNESCO’s Niagara Escarpment Biosphere. This designation is important to people and communities for several reasons, as it provides a range of social, cultural, environmental, and economic benefits.
 
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are recognized for their commitment to sustainable development. This means that communities in these areas are encouraged to balance the needs of local people with the conservation of biodiversity. This can lead to better long-term resource management, healthier productive ecosystems, and more resilient local economies.
 
The designation highlights areas that are ecologically significant, fostering the conservation of rare and endangered species. For communities living in these areas, this can lead to a more diverse and healthy environment, which benefits agriculture, tourism, and overall quality of life.
 
Being designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve also brings international recognition, which can help raise the profile of local cultures, including those of the Indigenous Peoples who inhabit areas on and near the Niagara Escarpment, taking into account our traditions and environmental practices. This recognition and involvement fosters a sense of pride within all communities in the region.
 
As an Associate Professor in the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent University, founding Director of the Indigenous Environmental Science/Studies program, and Co-Director of the University’s newly formed Indigenous Environmental Institute, I can attest to how UNESCO Biosphere Reserves serve as living laboratories for engaging scientific research and Indigenous knowledge. All communities can benefit from educational programs and partnerships with research institutions that focus on ecosystem restoration, sustainable land use, wildlife and habitat protection, and climate change adaptation.
 
Finally, a Biosphere designation encourages collaboration among governments, NGOs, local communities, Indigenous knowledge holders, and scientists. This creates a platform for sharing knowledge, resources, and experiences, enhancing the capacity of communities to address environmental and socio-economic challenges now and into the future.
 
As we approach winter and the completion of 2024, I wish all of our donors, members, and network partners a safe, warm, and Happy Holiday Season. Be good. Be kind. Be generous. Be loving toward your family, friends, and colleagues, and have respect and empathy for all living things!

That is how we prefer to go about our work.

Skennenhatye (Peace be with you).
Nyá:wen. Chi Miigwech. Merci. Thank you.​
Dr. Dan Roronhiakewen Longboat
President - Plenty Canada
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​Niagara Parks, in association with Plenty Canada, has published Landscape of Nations: Beyond the Mist, a 256-page coffee table book featuring works from 17 authors, numerous photographers, mapmakers, and artists, that chronicles the history of Indigenous peoples who have lived within the Niagara region for some 13,000 years.
 
This anthology reveals an unprecedented examination and presentation of the full spectrum of Indigenous life within the Niagara River corridor across millennia, bringing forward previously unknown insights and revelations from a variety of sources, from the meta narratives of Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek cultures, archaeological data, and British Indian Department records along with photographs, artwork, and objects from the collections of numerous museums, libraries, and archives. The group of authors who contributed to the book comprise the leading scholars and Indigenous knowledge holders with expertise on Indigenous history and culture within the Niagara region.
 
Landscape of Nations: Beyond the Mist was co-edited by Rick Hill, a renowned educator of Indigenous cultures, histories, and arts who currently serves as an Indigenous innovations specialist at Mohawk College and Tim Johnson, senior advisor for Heritage and Legacy with the Niagara Parks Commission and Plenty Canada. Both are former Smithsonian Institution executives.
 
“It is amazing to think that for some 13,000 years, my ancestors have been living within the beautiful environs of the Niagara Peninsula, and that my relatives continue to call this place our home,” said General Editor Rick Hill. “Now, we get to share our stories and the stories of this important place. The land continues to inspire us and as you will see, continues to sustain us as Indigenous peoples. We welcome you to our world.”
 
“I couldn’t be more gratified by the depth of content that the book’s scholars, Indigenous knowledge holders, and artists contributed to its pages,” said Concept and Managing Editor Tim Johnson. “This magnificent book does something truly remarkable, it greatly expands understanding and comprehension of the deep Indigenous history along the Niagara River corridor while simultaneously revealing the place-based learning power inherent at heritage destinations throughout the Niagara Parks system, extending 56 kilometres from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.”
 
The book’s VIP unveiling and launch program was held at Niagara Parks’ Old Fort Erie Visitor Centre and featured remarks from the book’s editors, authors, and contributors, followed by a book signing and reception. Copies of Landscape of Nations: Beyond the Mist were made available for purchase at the event.
 
Following the launch, copies of Landscape of Nations: Beyond the Mist were made available for purchase across Niagara Parks retail stores and other participating locations across the region such as the Niagara Falls History Museum, Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, and the store at Fort George, operated by The Friends of Fort George.
 
There are two sites at which to order the book online, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum website and the store at the Friends of Fort George website. See links below:
 
https://notlmuseumshop.square.site/product/landscape-of-nations-beyond-the-mist/1209
 
https://friendsoffortgeorge.square.site/product/landscape-of-nations-beyond-the-mist/296?cs=true&cst=custom
 
Printed in Canada using high quality papers and production processes, this hardcover book is an exceptional choice for a Holiday Gift this season!

— Niagara Parks

​Plenty Canada’s Two-Eyed Seeing to Share Knowledge of Ontario’s Breeding Birds, in partnership with Ontario Nature, has entered its second full year of operation, with lots of community outreach along with Lands, Resources, and Environment department support happening throughout the year. In the spirit of Two-Eyed Seeing, great care is taken to ensure that Indigenous knowledge keepers and western science perspectives are equally represented at every event or activity.
 
Sharon Kimberley, the Indigenous Community Liaison, North, organized community events all over Northern Ontario.  Plenty Canada had a booth at Career Day in Webequie First Nation and did classroom talks about bird conservation and environment-focused careers. Birding talks, lunches, and nature walks were held with Northwestern Ontario Métis Child and Family Services in Fort Frances and Atikokan. It was a great privilege to be invited to and attend the Grand Council Treaty 3 Indigenous Residential Schools Survivor’s gathering, to talk about birding, the Atlas, and share the joy of observing nature outdoors.
 
Sharon travelled to Chapleau, Ontario to lead a bird monitoring workshop for Wahkohtowin Development GPI’s Land Guardians. Two Atlas Regional Coordinators and a Knowledge Keeper also participated. The Land Guardians learned how to use bird monitoring equipment and related apps then had an opportunity to do a trail walk and practice their skills in a real-world setting. In partnership with Atlas representatives, Sharon presented about bird monitoring and accessing Nature Count data at Wahkohtowin Development GPI’s Indigenous Land Symposium, with many interested participants dropping by the booth to learn more.
 
Emily Morris, project supervisor acting as the Indigenous Community Liaison, South, in partnership with Atlas representatives, organized a birding workshop at the Youth Summit for Mother Earth, with Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth from across Ontario. Birding resources were also provided at the Gidakiiminan E-Nakiijig Gathering hosted by Nin-Da-Waab-Jig (Walpole Island Heritage Centre) and Ontario Nature, with Indigenous Land Guardians from across southern Ontario.
 
Roughly 20 Indigenous participants from communities participating in the Two-Eyed Seeing project from across Ontario were supported to attend the Two-Eyed Seeing and Ethical Space Training conference held in March at the Gathering Place by the Grand in Six Nations of the Grand River.
 
The project has supported bird monitoring activities in Indigenous communities all across Ontario, including more than 17 First Nations, supplying more than 90 Autonomous Recording Units plus handheld recording units and binoculars. Training has been developed and delivered and ongoing support is being provided for data analysis.
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For the remainder of this year, attention has now shifted to focus on how to make the Atlas-3 products useful for Indigenous communities and how to include Indigenous Knowledge and Ways of Being in the Atlas-3 publication. Discussions and outreach are ongoing on this important topic. A gathering is planned in Sudbury, Ontario for January 2025 with attendees from First Nations across Northern Ontario and participants involved in bird monitoring and Atlas-3.

— Emily Morris & Sharon Kimberley