Our thanks to Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA) and Nanook Expeditions for making our inaugural Canoeing & Outdoor Cooking workshop a huge success.
On June 14, Youth4Youth Canada’s Kîšâc program brought together Indigenous youth, parents, and Elders for a hands-on day of canoeing and outdoor cooking at Shirley’s Bay Park. The event drew 16 Indigenous youth, 7 parents, and an Elder from across Métis, Inuit, and First Nations communities—making for a vibrant and supportive circle of learners and leaders.
After an opening prayer and smudge, the day began with a safety-focused canoeing workshop, where youth learned how to properly fit and wear a life jacket, mastered the basics of paddle strokes, and practised essential safety skills, including what to do in the event of a capsize and how to form a rescue raft. Once confident in the fundamentals, the group took to the water—paddling in teams within 100 metres of shore, always under watchful eyes and calm encouragement.
Lunchtime brought a welcome break and a chance to gather over freshly grilled burgers. But the real highlight for many was the opportunity to make bannock the old way—either fire-baked or pan-fried. Youth gathered around the heat, taking pride in cooking their own food, laughing, and sharing stories while their bannock browned to perfection.
After lunch, the group returned to the water for a second round of canoeing. This time, there was more confidence, more laughter—and more splashes.
It was a day of learning, laughter, and connection to land, water, and one another. Kîšâc continues to offer opportunities like this to build both skills and relationships that last long after the canoes are back on shore.
