Education and Community Building

Building Community at Trent University: 2024 Learning on the Land Camp

In August 2024, the First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University is hosting its second annual Learning on the Land Camp on Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario.

The project brings together 30 First Nation, Métis, Inuit and non-Indigenous Trent University students for a hands-on learning experience built to foster relationships among students, Elders, local community members, and the land and water.

A grant from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) will cover honorariums for local Indigenous guides who will lead safety and cultural protocols during the camp and who will be directly involved in guiding many of the teachings. The funding will also cover the costs of additional support staff, including a counsellor and language specialist, transportation, materials and resources for participating students, food, accommodation, and program materials.

Through the Learning on the Land Camp experience, students will build a sense of community, empathy, and understanding with fellow students, local Elders and community members. This shared experience will help them transition into the new school year with already established trust and deeper relationships. Through collaborative activities and survival tasks, students will develop strong bonds with each other and a profound connection to the land.

For Indigenous youth, the camp is an opportunity to reconnect with culture, identity, and language. For non-Indigenous students, it provides a unique perspective on the challenges faced by Indigenous communities, offering a path towards reconciliation.

Diocese of Peterborough

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