Credit: Black Creek, 2008.
Living from the Land & Water: a food-themed walk exploring connections between growing food, land, water and our own health. We’ll visit community gardens and Black Creek Community Farm, and speak to leaders about their food-growing and developing food sovereignty with culturally appropriate foods for all. The tour will end at the site of the 15th-century Wendat longhouse village beside Black Creek where their large fields grew the “Three Sisters” of corn, beans and squash to support their community, asking what can we learn about supporting our community’s food needs today. Walk led by Adjowa Karikari, Brian MacLean, Ayesha Khan and Joshua Recollet.
Meeting point: Entrance to Black Creek Community Farm (4929 Jane St), at the southeast corner of Jane and Steeles West.
WALKING TOUR
Meeting point: South-East corner of Jane and Steeles W.
Tour ends at Driftwood Park.
2-5pm
RAIN CONTINGENCY
If bad weather is predicted we will notify registrants early on the morning of the event, with an alternative date.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
This integrated program of events will take place in the Jane-Finch and York University neighbourhood in April 2022. Guided walks, talks and workshops that interpret the landscape, plus engaging activities for all ages & dance performances — all will centre residents in the Black Creek watershed and deepen everyone’s connections to its centuries of history and connections to land and water, and its potential to inspire a sustainable way of life in the face of climate change.
Our three walking tours along Black Creek will weave together community history, visits to community gardens, thousands of years of Indigenous history in the area, music and dance to celebrate the aliveness of the Creek, and a workshop and film screening that will connect this gentle creek flowing between the Jane-Finch neighbourhood and York University with the Humber River, Lake Ontario and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean.
Instagram: @blackcreekwalks
Facebook : Black Creek Walks, Talks & Dances
RELATED EVENTS
Walking Tour 1
Workshop and Walking Tour 3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Black Creek Walks, Talks & Dances is presented in partnership with Myseum of Toronto as part of Myseum Intersections 2022. This project is led by Brian McLean and Ayesha Khan with contributions from Catherine Tàmmaro, Joanna DeSouza, L. Anders Sandberg, York University, and Black Creek Community Farm.
PROJECT LEADS
Ayesha Khan is a local activist and community worker based in Jane and Finch. Through her work with the office of City Councillor Anthony Perruzza and local paper the Downsview Advocate, she continues to forge community connections and advocate for the environment, women’s rights, poverty reduction and more. Ayesha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Public Policy, Administration and Law, both at York University.
Twitter: @KhanAyeshaZ
Instagram: @ayeshazkh
Brian MacLean loves developing walking tours with Lost Rivers Toronto that help people explore and appreciate the nature within reach of everyone in our city. He is grateful for his experiences with the First Story Toronto project that researches the Indigenous history of Toronto. He also volunteers as a Neighbourhood Climate Action Champion with the City of Toronto’s TransformTO climate action strategy.
www.lostrivers.ca
Instagram: @TorontoRivers
Twitter: @TorontoRivers
WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM:
L. Anders Sandberg was born in Sweden and was a member of its Olympic swimming team. After migrating to Canada to study at Canadian universities, he eventually became Professor at York University’s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. In addition to the courses he teaches, he created and leads the popular Alternative Campus Tour connecting York students with Black Creek and the Jane-Finch community, and recently co-authored “Re-Connecting with a Historical Site” about the 500-year-old Wendat village site in our area.
https://sandberg.blog.yorku.ca/
https://alternativecampustour.info.yorku.ca/
Joanna de Souza received a Master’s Degree in kathak dance through Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad, India. She is respected internationally as a dancer, choreographer, and is a much sought-after teacher. Named one of the “leading Indian classical dancers in Canada” – India Today Magazine. In Toronto, she co-founded M-DO/KathakToronto which is home to dance classes, master classes and workshops, at the highest artistic level.
Facebook: M-DO/KathakToronto
Instagram: @mdokathaktoronto
Taǫmęˀšreˀ/Catherine Tàmmaro is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practise spans decades. Catherine is a seated Spotted Turtle Clan FaithKeeper and member of the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation, Wendat Confederacy. She is active throughout the City of Toronto and beyond in many organizations as Elder in Residence, Mentor, Teacher and Cultural Advisor. She is an alumna of the Ontario College of Art and has had a diverse career, multiple exhibits and installations, published written works and presentations. She is the new Indigenous Arts Program Manager at Toronto Arts Council and continues teaching, learning and exploring her creativity and that of others.
Myseum Intersections 2022 is funded by the Government of Canada.
Myseum of Toronto is made possible with the generous support of Diane Blake and Stephen Smith.
Black Creek Walks, Talks & Dances – Walking Tour 2
2-5PM
Entrance to Black Creek Community Farm (4929 Jane St),
at the southeast corner of Jane and Steeles West.
Toronto, ON
COVID POLICIES:
All 3 walking/dancing events take place outdoors, with a maximum capacity of 50 attendees. Attendees are encouraged to maintain a 2-metre distance throughout the walks.
DIRECTIONS:
Via TTC: Jane bus #35 (or Jane Express #935 from Pioneer Village Station) to Steeles Ave W, or Steeles West bus #60 towards Jane St. Walk 3min southeast to Black Creek Community Farm.
