Name: Biiskaabe Zaa’emaanag Birchbark Canoe Project
Start: 2026-08-03T09:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-08-15T16:00:00-04:00
Location: Askaakamigokwewigamig (Mother Earth Teaching Lodge, 20 Willcocks St., Courtyard, University of Toronto).

$Biiskaabe Zaa\u2019emaanag Birchbark Canoe Project$

A 14-day immersive workshop focused on the construction of a traditional birchbark canoe through Elder-led teachings.
About this Event

Join us for the Biiskaabe Zaa’emaanag Birchbark Canoe Project, a 14-day immersive workshop focused on the construction of a traditional birchbark canoe through Elder-led teachings, hands-on learning, and community connection. Taking place from August 3–15, 2026 at Askaakamigokwewigamig (Mother Earth Learning Lodge) at the University of Toronto, this gathering brings together university students, community youth, and Indigenous knowledge keepers in an urban “land-back” learning space.

Guided by Elder Chuck Commanda, participants will learn traditional canoe-building practices using birch bark, cedar, spruce roots, and natural sealants while engaging in daily circles, smudging, storytelling, and cultural teachings.

Throughout the two-week workshop, participants will explore ancestral technologies, Indigenous relationships to land and water, and collaborative building practices rooted in care, respect, and reciprocity.The project will conclude with a community canoe launch, feast, and giveaway ceremony celebrating the work completed together.

Community members are welcome to attend select programming and support this unique intergenerational learning experience.Location: Askaakamigokwewigamig (Mother Earth Learning Lodge), 20 Willcocks St., Toronto, ON

Dates: August 3–15, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily

Maximum Capacity: 50 participants/community attendees.

Presented by Waakebiness Institute for Indigenous Health & Ontario NEIHR.

The Ontario Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (ON NEIHR) Shkaakaamikwe gchi twaa miigwewin: Mother Earth’s Gifts is a collaborative, Indigenous-led research network dedicated to improving mental health and holistic wellness for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) communities. The network is housed at the Waakebiness Institute for Indigenous Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.