When the wild rice is standing tall, and those cool nights feel like fall,
Let’s go paddling Let’s go paddling on the river.
Up though the lake each day on the ancient routes of the Anishinaabe
Let’s go paddling, Let’s go paddling on the river……
AIU Paddle Song 2023
The 8th Annual Adventure in Understanding canoe trip from (Nogojiwanong) Peterborough to (Oshgimong) Curve Lake First Nation set out on Sunday August 27th with a mixture of 20 Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth on a journey of reconciliation.
Day 1 After a paddle up the (Odoonabii-ziibi) Otonabee River we camped at Trent University and meet with Michi Saagiig knowledge keeper Caleb Musgrave.
Day 2 The group played the reconciliation map game at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre followed by a tree planting. We then paddled to Lakefield for a camp out and water teaching from Brittany Taylor of Curve Lake.
Day 3 We paddled north to Camp Kawartha on (Bessikakoon) or Clear Lake. The visit to camp was packed with classic camp activates and a camp out on The Range.
Day 4 saw a full day of paddling and a visit to (Kinoomaagewaabkong) The Petroglyphs for several teachings by Michi Saagiig Elders and a camp out on Love Sick Lake.
Day 5 A big paddle to Curve Lake brought us to the sacred fire at the Pow-wow grounds where Chief Keith Knott and several elders continued to teach us of the long history of the Michi Saagiig and the deep connection their language and culture has to the land and waters.
May we all pull together toward Reconciliation and revitalization of land and waters.
Glen Caradus
AIU On Water Coordinator
