Students from St Domenic Catholic Secondary School recently constructed a birchbark canoe as part of a recent two-week Indigenous skilled trades course event. The students worked with canoe builders Amber Quakegesic and Chuck Commanda of Kitigan Zibi to construct the canoe from scratch. “[Commanda] teaches so much more than canoe building,” says Conway. “[The students] can ask him anything about Indigenous culture. He’s so friendly. The beauty of it is it is so organic. It’s really exciting to watch.” The canoe was christened as “Widgiiwagan Jiiman,” which means “Friendship Canoe,” by the students, staff, and Commanda. Students, staff, and the canoe builders gathered in Kelvin Grove Park for a ceremony, where they launched the canoe into the Muskoka River.
