âniskômohcikan (an sko mo chi gun) means connecting, strengthening our connection to this land, to our ancestral teachings and traditions, to our community and each other. We come together on the land to guide the children in their own self-directed learning with the land. The earth and the children have so much to teach us if we let them lead the way. We endeavor to give the children access to the natural environment, guidance, and time to build their own connection with nature in ways that are most meaningful to each individual learner. We acknowledge that every person, regardless of age, learns and grows in their own unique way, and each has something worth sharing.
âniskômohcikan provides opportunities for children to participate in learning on the land through our various programs, both on school grounds or on field-trips. Our bookable programs are facilitated using Two Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk-Mi’kmaq, Albert and Murdena Marshall) where the strengths of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing on the land come together to create an enriching forest and nature school experience. Each session is facilitated by both an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper and a Certified Forest and Nature School Practitioner. Our programming is provided free of charge for qualifying groups.
Visit âniskômohcikan’s website.
OUR OBJECTIVES
- Ensure that all youth have the opportunity to experience, enjoy, and learn about our natural ecosystems and engage in culturally relevant, science-based environmental educational activities.
- Facilitate rekindling of cultural world views for an urban, largely Indigenous population.
- Foster an awareness and appreciation of the natural environment and an understanding of humanity’s place therein; and foster the development of the next generation of environmental stewards.
OUR GOALS
The overall goal of âniskômohcikan is to assist in developing genuine attitude and value changes in learners, fostering not only increased environmental awareness but also a sense of empowerment and commitment to stewardship principles.
Vision: Address local social, economic and environmental issues through a bioregional lens of curricular based science and cultural education.
ACTIVITIES
With Forest and Nature School philosophy specific to our situation in Canada, 7 essential relationships are explored.
Land: We connect and care for the land. We learn from the land, and its Indigenous caretakers. Each âniskômohcikan session is an act of Reconciliation, and Climate Action.
Trust: We are child centered. We trust that children are capable leaders and decision makers on the land. We trust that learning will occur.
Power: Educators step back and share power with the children. We listen and support.
Play: We make time for uninterrupted, unstructured play that is child-led and freely chosen.
Risk: Children are capable of recognizing and managing risk on their own or collaboratively. We allow this, as it is an essential life skill.
Story: We are all creating a story together. Stories are how we pass on knowledge and build relationships.
Learning: Through these experiences on the land, learning will happen, in an inclusive way.
VOLUNTEERING
If you are interested in getting involved with âniskômohcikan, please visit our website for more information