Council Ring has always been a very special event, remembered fondly by generations of campers. Taylor Statten Camps (TSC) are not the only camps to cherish such an activity. Across Canada there are dozens of camps that have supported "Indian" assemblies in the past, but a select few still do. Most organizations abandoned them during the…

The ecological impact of colonialism is inextricable from empire building, industrialism, large-scale deforestation, and agriculture. Not long ago one could safely drink from nearly every lake, river, stream, and spring, and one could hunt animals as a part of intact ecosystems. Today's world is very different. Colonization alters the reality…

Connecting through outdoor adventure is a process that may or may not seem obvious. The word "connecting" resonates with a powerful and extensive implied meaning that the authors feel compelled to share. A recent collaborative research project between leaders from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve and researchers from Laurentian…

Metis scholar Catherine Richardson introduced the concept of the "Third Space" as the existentially blended territory of a Metis mentality. She compared this to the "First Space" of the dominant Euro-Canadian society and the "Second Space" of colonially subjugated Aboriginal peoples. However, during a recent…

Back in 1958, environmental clubs were few, organizations that considered eco-practices were almost non-existent, and the concept of environmental studies at any level in their educational system was in its infancy. It was in this environment that Voyageur Wilderness Programme (VWP) was founded on Voyageur Island, Nym Lake, Quetico, Ontario,…

This article examines the role material culture and making items can serve in establishing a sense of place or informing place-based educational practices. It is arranged around six principles that, if used in a learning context, connect material from a place to an enhanced comprehension of a sense of place. A critical component in making the…

Outward Bound Canada's (OBC) Giwaykiwin Program was founded in 1985 in response to a recognized need for programming specific to students from Indigenous backgrounds. The Giwaykiwin program aims to integrate Outward Bound (OB) and Indigenous philosophies and traditions. Giwaykiwin means "coming home" in Ojibwa and signifies the program's…

At first glance Sioux Lookout is a typical northern Ontario town, situated within an intricate lake and river system, socially focused on year-round outdoor activities, and enveloped by kilometres and more kilometres of undomesticated Canadian Shield landscape. One might think this would be an ideal spot for outdoor education, just as these…

Representations of Canadian wilderness as empty, romantic, pristine places overlook the fact that people live there and reflect the dualism that casts humanity and nature as opposites. Outdoor enthusiasts, outdoor educators, environmentalists, and supporters of Indigenous rights need to recognize where their interests and those of Aboriginal…

The author describes his visit to an elderly Inuit and the interaction resulting from his request to buy an old harpoon that the Inuit had used in hunting. He concludes that, no matter how long he lives in the village, he will never completely understand the Inuit culture, nor will they completely accept him. (LP)

Interviews with directors at five Ontario summer camps found that three camps exposed children to stereotypes of Indigenous peoples and to cultural appropriation. This is inconsistent with goals of educating campers about and showing respect for Indigenous cultures. Given the current issues of land-claims and Aboriginal rights, non-Indigenous…

Describes a bush camp in British Columbia (Canada) based on the Rediscovery concept. Guided by Kaska Dena and Sekani Elders, and based on traditional teachings, the week-long camp offers Native youth the opportunity to reconnect with the land and the cultural heritage it embodies and to make powerful new connections to their Elders and peers. (TD)

Staff at the Leslie M. Frost Natural Resources Center (Ontario, Canada) have attempted to clarify their role in promoting understanding of Native peoples by participating in training programs about traditional and modern conservation practices, assembling a list of Native people who are willing to participate in training programs, planning a…

"Experience Canada" is an experiential adventure-based program that is more academic than recreational. High school students interested in academic achievement but indifferent to the typical classroom environment, travel to explore controversial issues such as those involving aboriginal communities, logging, and mining. The program…

Describes a science and math pilot project developed for Mohawk junior high school students in Ahkwesahsne (Canada) that integrates Iroquois culture with Western approaches to learning science. Curriculum units are based on the Mohawk Thanksgiving Address that acknowledges all aspects of life. Includes a passage examining differences between…