Join John Harris and an elder for a morning exploration of Indigenous land-based pedagogy while on the lands surrounding Esquimalt Lagoon. These lands have been inhabited by Indigenous people for thousands of years, in several different sites around the lagoon. A great place to explore and reflect on our own interconnectedness to everything and the teachings that are offered.
K-12
Please bring your own mug/water bottle and snacks.
Please come prepared to be outside for the latter half of the morning.
For directions, please see the map - location is the Boat house and is marked with a checkmark for the doors and "Tapestry Morning Session".
Parking: We recommend you park in the large Central Parking lot below the castles and walk to the Boat house. If you area also staying for the afternoon it is a 5 min walk to the Sherman Jen Building and a Salish Sea EEPSA member will guide or direct you there!
There is a small lot next to the Boat House you can park in if you need to (i.e. accessibility reasons or bringing supplies for the session). Please get a parking ticket from the Central lot or other location ahead of time as there isn't a meter.
Food: Coffee, tea and snacks provided for am session. Bring a mug! In addition to the central Habitat Cafe, there is a mini-cafe (Sherman Jen Kiosk) in the lower part of the Sherman Jen Building that has sandwiches, treats & beverages and it is open until 2 pm.
Sherman Jen Lunch Hour Master's of Environment Ed Presentation & Info Tables set up for afternoon presenters
Presenters for the day and RRU's Masters of Environmental Education and Communication will have some info during the lunch hour (lunch runs 11:45-12:45 presentation by Hilary Leighton and Master's students is from 12-12:30). You are welcome to come and have your lunch in one of the rooms and find some takeaways and resources.
This session is full.
John Harris is an Indigenous Educator and member of Snuneymuxw (Nanaimo) First Nation. Having had the privilege of living, learning and working as a Coast Salish person in Lekwungen (Greater Victoria) territory his entire life, many of his cultural teachings are rooted in this place, and on the land. From roasting salmon over open fires at Esquimalt Lagoon and harvesting Dungeness and Red Rock Crab in the estuary below Royal Roads University, to learning to process Deer and hunting Grouse in the T’Sou-ke (Sooke) foothills, his life has been enriched by a deep and personal connection to the land. As an educator, John has found that incredibly profound learning occurs at the intersection between traditional ecological knowledge of local First Peoples, land-based experiential teaching, and an openness on the part of educator and student alike to embrace Uy’skwuluwun (a good mind and a good heart) when doing this work. His work in this field has culminated in his presenting to educators across the province about ‘why’ it’s important to engage learners in this way. While this type of learning can be both impactful and life-long, it’s also interdisciplinary, making it relevant to educators of all backgrounds. John is currently in the role of District Elders & Indigenous Knowledge Facilitator with the Greater Victoria School District.
Chloe is a 5th generation settler on Lekwungen, W̱SÁNEĆ and Halq’emeylem lands who has a deep love for this place and is grateful every day for being able to live on these lands and learn. She is a secondary science and social studies teacher in the Saanich School District and the current president of the Salish Sea Environmental Educators Provincial Specialist Association (SSEEPSA).