The Great Canoe Journey project was a learning journey for students in grade 3+ to engage in reconciliation through education, by bridging cultural and water education. Students learnt about traditional indigenous canoes and their local waters through webinars, workshops, and youth-led action.
The Great Canoe Journey Impact and Learning Report is now available.
This project is led by indigenous and non-indigenous Youth Advisory Board (YAB) volunteers with the support of cultural educators across Canada. If there is not a local volunteer in your area, your workshop will be offered via webinar.
In areas where funding is available (from our partners or your school), Cultural Educators will co-host the workshop in your classroom.
In highly engaged areas, we partner with indigenous traditional canoe builders to deliver special workshops, where students learn directly from canoe builders and their canoes.
The program also brings indigenous voices into the classroom via Canada-wide webinars, recordings are available in our online library of resources – once you’ve registered, you’ll be invited to join new live webinars!
Thursday February 06, 2020 - Kingston, ON.Canoe builder, Christian Pilon, along with Rosy Tutton and Laina Timberg ran a workshop at St. Lawrence College.
Monday February 10, 2020 - Ucluelet, BC. Canoe builder Joe Martin, Olivia, and YAB members Jordan, Charlie and Selby ran a Great Canoe Journey workshop.
Thursday March 12, 2020 - Whitehorse, YT. A one-day virtual Youth & Young Professional Leadership Development Training. Participants learned about systems thinking, and decolonizing spaces
Wednesday January 29, 2020 - Sudbury, ON. We hosted a Youth Leadership Training for youth ages 10+ at the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre. Participants learned about leadership skills, relationships to water, and planned a 2020 Spring Water Walk.
Thursday November 7, 2019 - Gatineau, QC. Teachings of the Metis Birchbark Canoe, a workshop by canoe builder Christian Pilon and YAB Stephanie Woodworth and another workshop at McGill University with Christian Pilon and YAB Sydney Stevenson.
Wednesday November 13, 2019 - Sackville. NS. Teachings of the Mi’kmaq Birchbark Canoe online webinar with canoe builder Todd Labrador and YAB for classes in Nova Scotia
Friday November 15, 2019 - Edmonton, AB. High School Indigenous Youth Training with James Knibb-Lamouche from the Indigenous Culture and Wisdom Centre, Waterlution staff and volunteers, for Indigenous youth to learn how to facilitate GCJ workshops.
Wednesday November 20 & Thursday November 21, 2019 - York, ON. Teachings About Birchbark at the QUEST Conference with YAB Avalonne, Stephanie and Laina.
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Tuesday November 26, 2019 - Surrey, BC. Canoe Teachings Workshop with canoe builder, Pat Calihou and YAB volunteers for a school.
Friday May 31 2019, 2020 - Kitchener, BC. The Sturgeon-nosed Canoe by Ktunaxa canoe builder Jordan Louis, a workshop for youth from the Aq’am First Nations community.
Friday May 3, 2019 -Whistler, BC. The Coast Salish Dugout Canoe with Squamish carver Aaron Nelson-Moody, a workshop for new volunteers joining the Great Canoe Journey’s Youth Advisory Board.
Sunday April 14, 2019 - Toronto, ON. The Birchbark Canoe with Ojibwe canoe builder Isaac Murdoch, a workshop for new volunteers joining the Great Canoe Journey’s Youth Advisory Board. Co-hosted with Ojibwe Grandmother Kim Wheatley.
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Friday March 15, 2019 - Salmon Arm, BC. The Salishan Sturgeon Nose Canoe by Dr Shawn Brigman with stories and teachings from Mariel Belanger , an artist-scholar from the Head of the Lake - Dry Creek, the northern part of the Syilx - Okanagan Nation. A cultural workshop about identity studied through the lens of sqilxw ways of knowing.
Friday March 29, 2019 - Gatineau, QC. The Birchbark Canoe with Métis canoe builder Christian Pilon. A French workshop for students participating in the Great Canoe Journey.
Friday February 15, 2019 - Whistler, BC - Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. The Coast Salish Dugout Canoes with Squamish carver Aaron Nelson-Moody. A workshop for students participating in the Great Canoe Journey in the Sea to Sky Region.
Friday January 18, 2019 - Orléans, ON. The Birchbark Canoe with Métis Canoe Builder Christian Pilon - a French workshop for students participating in the Great Canoe Journey.
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Saturday November 3, 2018 - Toronto, ON. The Ojibwe Birchbark Canoe workshop by cultural educator Mike Ormsby.
Monday August 27, 2018, - Hebbs Cross, NS. The Mi’kmaq Birch Bark Canoe Workshop by Mi’kmaq canoe builder Todd Labrador.
