Workshops
Meaningful Land Based Learning Experiences for any Environment
We love working with new and old partners to facilitate authentic and engaging land based learning opportunities that embody our values, our culture, and help to deepen participants’ relationships to the land and one another. We are available year round for a variety of opportunities including on the land excursions, classroom or event settings, and virtual workshops. If you’re considering hosting a Reclaiming Our Roots workshop, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
Quality vs. Quantity
Our workshops are best suited for small groups so we can make the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time, and so folks feel comfortable to engage with the content and ideas. For most engaging experiences, groups should aim to be around 15 participants or less for 1.5-2 hours.
Time to Grow
The best relationships take time to grow! Reach out to us early on in your planning phase so we can start to develop an idea of your vision for your group. Some of our workshops take months of harvesting and planning in advance, so please reach out early on.
Reciprocity
We are happy to offer a sliding scale for local BIPOC non-profit and community groups as a way to honour our commitment to community. We do ask that our Non-Indigenous and institutional allies be prepared to advocate within their teams to honor our professional rates so we can continue offering these opportunities within our community.
Participant Highlights
“They are able to teach in an organic way, casual, relaxed and you feel their passion for their culture and land based knowledge. I always look forward to updates on social media to see where I can connect my children to their indigenous roots and community, despite not being Mi’kmaq, but Blackfoot, they have always been welcomed to join community initiatives. I feel at ease asking questions that can help my child understand their natural world. ”
— Parent and workshop participant, Jennie
“I am endlessly thankful for Chenise and James, who shared their knowledge and time with a group of Dalhousie students. They guided us through a land-based plant and medicine walk learning about junipers, huckleberries, cranberries, bayberries, Labrador tea, sweetgrass, and so many others… It was inspiring and powerful learning about the Reclaiming Our Roots program and how they are building strong cultural connections with Indigenous Youth by Indigenous People with their land, traditional skills, and Mi'kmaw values.”
-Workshop participant, Taylor
Designing your workshop:
All workshops include a brief history of Reclaiming Our Roots, our story, and our values, and are then typically designed around a particular theme or activity of your choosing. If you have a particular land based activity or theme in mind, that’s great! If you’re not sure , please check out this seasonal guide for some ideas:
KESIK/WINTER
- Winter eel spearing
- Ice Fishing
- Trapping
-Fur Harvesting & Stewardship
- Fur and hide processing and tanning
- Arts based activities using fur and hides.
NIPK/ SUMMER
- Berries and medicines, including natural dyes.
-Fishing: eels, mackeral, trout
-Spear harvesting and preparation
- Birch bark harvest for crafts and moose calls
SIWK/ SPRING
-Fishing: smelts, striped bass, trout, eels
- Fiddlehead picking
-Maple tapping and syrup preparation
TOQWA’Q/FALL
- Trapping
-Fur Harvesting and Stewardship
- Hunting and processing game
-Berries and medicines
Request a Workshop
Please fill out this form if you’d like to be contacted about hosting a workshop together. It’s okay if you don’t have all the details yet, this is just a conversation starter: