Black Creek Walks, Talks & Dances - Workshop & Walking Tour 3

Credit: Black Creek, 2008.

uⁿdawaʔ (“current”)
An art-making workshop that complements the Indigenous History Walk. Facilitated by Wyandot Tradition Keeper and artist Catherine Tàmmaro, participants will explore our sacred connection to moving water and its vast importance in our lives through creative expression. Art supplies provided. Face masks will be required for this indoor event.

11am-1pm

Location:
​Skennen’kó:wa Gamig (“The house of Great Peace”​)
35 Nelson Rd.
N​ortheast corner of Nelson Rd. & The Pond Rd, on York University campus​.
(Note: On Google Maps it may still be called Hart House​.)​​

We Are All Treaty People
Learn about the meaning of the treaty relationship – one that exists between nations but also between human beings and all other beings inhabiting the land, water and air we share. This Indigenous history walk will link stories about the Huron-Wendat, Seneca, and the Mississaugas to places and people along Black Creek. By learning this history of where we live, we can deepen our understanding of how we can protect our home and each other. We will begin at Skennen’kó:wa Gamig house on YorkU campus and end on the “Huron-Wendat Way”, where a Huron-Wendat village of longhouses existed in the 1400s, surrounded by corn fields. We’ll use the “Moccasin Identifier” with its developer, Carolyn King of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, to help show the connection to the land of each major Indigenous group linked to Toronto from long ago to today and connect to the way we live today. Led by Joshua Recollet, Carolyn King, Anders Sandberg and Brian MacLean.

2-4pm

Meeting point: Skennen’kó:wa Gamig (“The house of Great Peace”)
35 Nelson Rd., on York University Campus at the corner of Nelson Rd and The Pond Rd. (Note: On Google Maps it may still be called Hart House)

Tour ends along Black Creek at Shoreham Dr. entrance to Black Creek Parklands at 5pm.

Walking Distance: 2.8km

The workshop is optional and has limited availability. If you wish to attend both the workshop and the walking tour, or just the walking tour, please make sure to choose the corresponding ticket when registering on Eventbrite.

If bad weather is predicted we will notify registrants early on the morning of the event, with an alternative date.

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

Walking Tour 1
Walking Tour 2

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.

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

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.

https://catherinetammaro.com/

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.