At Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), we are privileged to work and learn on the traditional territories of many Indigenous nations.
This National Indigenous Peoples Day, and throughout National Indigenous History Month in June, we honour the Elders, artists, knowledge keepers, and community members who generously share their stories, traditions, and guidance with us.
Across our jurisdiction, from Tommy Thompson Park to The Village at Black Creek and Kortright Centre for Conservation, Indigenous voices are shaping a richer, more inclusive vision of environmental stewardship.
Rooted in Ceremony at Tommy Thompson Park
For more than two decades, TRCA has hosted community festivals at Tommy Thompson Park to celebrate birds, butterflies, and the ecosystems that support them. Since 2022, these events have been transformed through the guidance of Cat Criger, a Traditional Indigenous Elder and Knowledge Keeper from the Cayuga Nation, Turtle Clan.
With Cat’s leadership, ceremonies such as smudging and guided reflections have become central to TRCA’s Spring Bird Festival and Butterfly Festival.
His teachings invite participants to see the land not just as habitat, but as a living relative, reminding us of the importance of reciprocity, gratitude, and care.
At this year’s TRCA Spring Bird Festival, Cat co-led a “braiding” nature walk with TRCA educators, offering cross-cultural perspectives on the relationships between people, land, and the more-than-human world.
These walks drew diverse participants of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage with Indigenous knowledge in such an accessible and meaningful way.
What began as a collaboration for one event has grown into an ongoing relationship. Cat’s influence can now be seen in other TRCA initiatives, including TRCA’s Adventures of Salmon, which explore the interconnectedness of species, water, and culture through Indigenous perspectives.
Changing the Narrative at The Village at Black Creek
At The Village at Black Creek, formerly Black Creek Pioneer Village, Indigenous partnerships are helping to reshape the way we understand the past and imagine the future.
Since 2017, TRCA has worked closely with Elders, artists, and knowledge keepers to “restory” The Village, ensuring that Indigenous histories are shared in their own voices.
The Changing the Narrative project, developed in collaboration with York University, Jumblies Theatre, and five southern Ontario First Nations, lays the groundwork for permanent installations that reflect the deep and complex connections between Indigenous Peoples and settler communities.
We are especially grateful for the guidance of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, the Chippewas of Rama, the Chippewas of Georgina Island, and the Six Nations of the Grand River.
The project acknowledges the loss of land and livelihoods that came with European settlement, while also highlighting moments of resilience, collaboration, and shared knowledge.
Art plays a powerful role in this transformation. Works by Inuk artist Barry Best, Métis textile artist Tracey-Mae Chambers, and others are placed throughout the site, encouraging visitors to consider whose stories have historically been left out and what healing can look like.
The Village also hosts a traditional wiigiwaam, constructed with Indigenous guidance, that serves as a space for quiet reflection, Sacred Fire Ceremonies, and community learning. It is one of several structures across TRCA lands that reflect the cultural and spiritual presence of Indigenous peoples on this territory.
Learning Through Land and Culture at Kortright Centre
At Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughan, Indigenous partners are reconnecting people with land through art, education, and ceremony.
The wiigiwaam at Kortright, built in collaboration with Dr. Jacqueline Lavallee and Dr. Hopi Martin of Edge of the Bush, is a powerful symbol of Indigenous teachings and seasonal cycles. It brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous people for ceremonies and learning and is used by educators to guide children in land-based teachings.
Nearby, the “Nenookaasi” (hummingbird) artwork, part of the York Region Experience Trail Marker project, welcomes visitors with messages rooted in Ojibwe tradition. The work of artist Donald Chretien and Elder Shelley Charles reminds us of the sacred songs of creation carried by this tiny yet mighty bird.
Kortright’s gift shop also supports local Indigenous artisans and businesses, offering high-quality handmade goods that reflect cultural traditions and stories.
The work of Indigenous artisans on display at the gift shop at Kortright Centre.
This year, TRCA is proud to welcome the Indigenous Action Committee (IAC) for its second annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration at Kortright on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
This free, family-friendly event includes the opening of a Three Sisters Garden, an Indigenous vendor market, and live music from contemporary Indigenous performers.
Continuing the Journey Together
The work of reconciliation is ongoing. At TRCA, we understand that building respectful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous Peoples is essential, not only to the integrity of our programs but to the health of the lands and waters we care for.
Whether through ceremony at Tommy Thompson Park, storytelling at The Village, or artistic expression at Kortright, these collaborations deepen our collective understanding of the land and its many histories. They invite us all to listen, to learn, and to honour the enduring presence and leadership of Indigenous communities.
This National Indigenous Peoples Day, we invite you to join us at a ceremony, a walk, a performance, or simply in reflection, as we continue this important journey together.