Including the Voice of Indigenous Youth in Green Infrastructure
Kayanase_nursery_six_nations-web/ UofT / See Updates_ final report links_
Green infrastructure, which works with natural processes to provide invaluable ecosystem services, is advocated by conservation authorities and communities. A significant gap remains in our understanding of how to collaborate effectively across disciplines and in particular to co-produce solutions with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples
This project is being co-developed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT), and the University of Toronto (UofT), with support from Ryerson Urban Water to explore a participatory model that includes the voice of Indigenous youth.
The project is motivated by three aspirations: 1) to define the role of Landscape Architecture in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, 2) to develop a ‘learning-by-doing’ example for integrating Indigenous Ways of Knowing including themes of Respect, Relationship, Reciprocity, Responsibility, and 3) to help bridge the intergenerational gap on traditional knowledge.
The intent is to learn and share the experience of how Indigenous high-school students and NCCT mentors invited to participate in landbased graduate courses, at the UofT and Ryerson University, can bring the voice of Indigenous youth to green infrastructure and Indigenous place-making.
UPDATES
2018.12 Update: The recipients co-lead an Indigenous youth program named ‘Nikibii Dawadinna Giigwag’ / Anishinaabemowin - Manitoulin dialect: “Healing of a Flooded Valley”, with Elder Whabagoon, the Daniels School at University of Toronto, and TRCA's Bolton Camp Project. Anticipated completion is March 2019.
2019.01 Update
Final Report: Including the Voice of Indigenous Youth in Green infrastructure