Caring for Our Creeks, Streams, Rivers and Wetlands | April 13th – Collingwood Library

Kate Russell

HELLO COMMUNITY!

Caring for our creeks, streams, rivers and wetlands often seems secondary to the push to develop and build along these precious resources essential to life.

Like beavers, we build up our community around water – but where the beaver may develop a new ecosystem to support natural growth, the impact of human development may lead to negative impacts and ecological harm in its process.

Water is life, wetlands are sacred, and shorelines are gathering places for animals and people to share. Neighbours within a watershed community of care reflect this to each other and work together to sustain their mutual home.

By coming together to discuss the importance of water, we can share insights, build strong relationships, and seek best practices to benefit our watershed community.

We invite you to join the growing community conversation at an upcoming Stewardship Circle:

EVENT SPEAKERS:

Sharon Carr & Lisa Wilson of Friends of Silver Creek will provide an overview of the challenges related to development on Silver Creek and its wetlands, with an outline of the efforts of many people over the last two decades to bring the community together to protect this vital watershed.

Caley Doran, Anishinaabe Interpretive Guide, will present his personal perspective on the ways of water, drawing from his experience leading interpretive programs for Cape Croker Park Anishinaabe Cultural Experiences program at Neyaashiinigmiing, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, Indian Reserve #27.

WALK & SHARE LEADS:

Christopher Akiwenzie of Bagida’waad Alliance is the lead guide for the Indigenous youth Aki Guardians program. Based at Neyaashiinigmiing, the Aki Guardians travel the traditional territories of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation offering interpretive hikes, species at risk surveys, ground truthing and stewardship planning services, while helping to foster a deep respect for the land and water.

Jillian Morris, Poet Laureate of Collingwood is an Indigenous writer exploring her culture in words and essays. Her poem “A Tribute to our Stolen Spirits” is installed at the Awen Gathering Circle. As her term as laureate ends, further installations will take place along the rail trail, so that she can continue to share her visions with the public.

LOCATION:

Collingwood Public Library
55 St. Marie Street, Collingwood

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, April 13:, 1 – 3 PM (at the library) Includes coffee, tea and treats

Sunday, April 13: 3 PM – 5 PM (“walk & share” from Awen’ Gathering Place)

REGISTRATION:

Please register in advance at events.thebeautifulbeavervalley@gmail.com or reply to this email confirming your attendance.

Stewardship Circles are built on the concept that community itself is the table at which discussions about the care of our home take place. All community members are invited: businesses, government, civic groups, landowners, and anyone who calls this place “home”. The structure is an informative presentation followed by a community conversation. Beaver Valley Destination Stewardship facilitates these Circles to benefit the community—both people and nature—and to support sharing responsibility for the holistic care of our home.