Students connect with roots through canoe building exercise at Mohawk, Confederation

Students at Mohawk College and Confederation College have engaged in canoe building to connect with their roots and culture. At Mohawk, master canoe-maker Chuck Commanda from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, guided Indigenous students in building a wigwas tchiiman (birch bark canoe) using his ancestors’ methods. The project received a $30K sponsorship from Breakwater Financial. At Confederation, a group of students recently built and launched a canoe, named Wildflower, that was made out of birch bark, cedar, and watap (spruce root). The students also studied the surrounding land according to western science, earning a preparatory certificate demonstrating STEM-related skills. Students at both colleges shared how the experience helped them feel more grounded in their culture. The Spectator| Mohawk| Confederation Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.