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What is this project about?
The project will provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn about Indigenous traditional knowledge and Anishinaabe teachings in a respectful, welcoming environment. Funding will support Elders and Knowledge Keepers to share their knowledge, teachings, stories, cultural practices and connection to the land with youth, families and community members.
The project will allow us to make greater use of our outdoor space for land-based and traditional teachings during the warmer months. Activities may include teachings about traditional plants and medicines, the land, cultural practices, storytelling, drumming and other traditional knowledge.
Funding will also help us access an indoor space during the winter months so that teachings can continue throughout the year. This will allow Elders and Knowledge Keepers to provide ongoing cultural education rather than limiting programming to the warmer seasons.
The project will help preserve and pass traditional knowledge from one generation to the next, strengthen cultural connections, provide meaningful learning opportunities, and create greater understanding and respect for Indigenous culture within Renfrew County. Approximately 700 people are reached by the Circle of Turtle Lodge annually, and the project will be open to anyone interested in learning. We are currently in talks to secure a building for winter teachings.
Why is this project important to the community?
This project is important because strong communities are built through connection, shared knowledge, belonging and opportunities for people to learn from one another. The Circle of Turtle Lodge provides a welcoming space where Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, youth, families and community members can come together to learn and share Indigenous traditional knowledge.
There is a growing need to preserve and pass traditional teachings from one generation to the next. Our project will support Elders and Knowledge Keepers to share teachings, stories, cultural practices and knowledge with anyone interested in learning. These teachings help strengthen cultural identity, understanding, respect and relationships within our community.
Funding will allow us to make greater use of our outdoor space for land-based teachings during the warmer months and provide an indoor space for teachings during the winter. This will allow cultural learning and community connection to continue throughout the year.
The project will benefit approximately 700 people who are reached by the Circle of Turtle Lodge annually. It will create opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members to learn together, build relationships, and develop a deeper understanding of Indigenous culture and our shared responsibility to care for the land and one another.
By supporting Elders and Knowledge Keepers and creating opportunities for intergenerational learning, this project helps ensure that valuable traditional knowledge continues to be shared, respected and carried forward for future generations. It will strengthen community connections, promote cultural understanding and create a stronger, more inclusive community in Renfrew County.
Target Completion Date
December 31, 2028
Location
13162B Highway 60
Golden Lake
K0J 1X0