In My Element: Wind & Fire | Vento & Fajro

In My Element is part of the program series of  HOME(LAND) curated by Claudia Arana for the ArtworxTO West Hub.

INDIGENOUS CULTURAL EXCHANGE

Participants will make their way to the Gathering Spot where a traditional sharing circle will be opened with introductions and a smudging ceremony. Focused teachings will be shared at this time surrounding:

• Love and respect for Mother Earth

• Respect for all living creatures

• Respect for both historical and modern Indigenous lifestyles

• Importance of having a connection to the Indigenous history of what is now Toronto - a history spanning thousands of years.

Participants will be encouraged to immerse themselves in this cultural exchange.

Any questions, comments and/or personal experiences are encouraged to be shared during our sharing circle.

Participants will enjoy an informative guided eco tour starts at Mimico waterfront park and walk east towards Humber Bay Park West, learning about significant natural areas and wildlife along the way!

Key points of observation will be:

• Local flora and fauna (plant-life) species

• Local animal species and their seasonal lifestyle

• Geographic details of the Teiaiagon (Iroquois) Village site

• Geographic details of the historic Carrying-Place Trail

This is the perfect time to take photographs, meet your tour-mates and your Nature Guide one-on-one! Time to reflect on the significance of teachings will be given during the Eco Tour, while participants explore the natural beauty of Toronto.

The walk is 1.3km and is mostly flat terrain.

About Alan Colley - Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours

Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours has been a passion and dream of mine for a long time. I have designed a company which honors our traditional way of life – but also allows for mainstream concepts of tourism and experimental learning.

I believe we are at the point in history where we are able to teach and share with the next generations show to have a sustainable relationship with the environment. This is the focus of Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours. My goal is to bring together our beautiful community in a way that allows elders, adults, youth and children to connect and make a difference with actions based on the ground principles of the 7 Grandfather Teachings, 13 Grandmother Moon Teachings and Medicine Wheel Teachings.

I am looking forward to sharing information regarding history, the plants, the animals, the fish and the insets so that we can looking at a heathy future that we are planting seeds for the present.

Every time a participant resonates with a teaching provided on our tours the Indigenous knowledge of my ancestors and the ancestors of tall Aboriginal peoples is honoured because it has a chance to expand into the future generations.

Those who had no idea of the sustainable lifestyles and understanding that the First Peoples of what is now Toronto had, can carry with them a new connection the the natural world they live in- even if it is surrounded by a concrete jungle.

I hope to met and share cultural understandings and environmental respect while also learning something new from each and every participant of Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tour!

https://www.instagram.com/taetours/

HOME(LAND)