Staff from Pine River and Gwekwaadziwin Miikan joined together to gently guide a stunning, handmade 30-foot canoe into our campus pond, moving it hand over hand along the gunwales. This incredible gift from “Gwek” was part of a meaningful ceremony witnessed by the entire Pine River campus community earlier this fall.
Gathered at the pond’s edge, the ceremony began with a traditional smudging—a spiritual practice using sweetgrass smoke to honour the canoe’s spirit. “Having this canoe and the significance of what we’re doing is very symbolic,” shared Andy Aguonie, Traditional Knowledge Carrier with Gwekwaadziwin Miikan. “It’s more than just paddling; it’s about navigating your own life, trying to find your mission, what makes you tick.”
The partnership between Pine River and Gwekwaadziwin Miikan stems from that shared goal: helping youth navigate life’s challenges more effectively.
Gwekwaadziwin Miikan’s Mental Health and Addictions Program for young adults (age 19 plus), established in 2018 on Manitoulin Island, was created to address the epidemic of addiction and mental health struggles faced by many Indigenous young people. Its unique approach integrates culturally specific practices and Indigenous traditional perspectives with clinical therapeutic methods.
“When we first started, Pine River helped us out in many different ways,” said Sam Gilchrest, Executive Director of Gwekwaadziwin Miikan, reflecting on his initial connection with Pine River founder Karen Minden. “We had opportunities to come to Pine River, meet with different staff members, spend time on the land, and receive training. This connection continues to grow.”
Today, the partnership has come full circle, with Gwekwaadziwin Miikan now providing training for Pine River staff. The canoe gift ceremony took place during our annual staff retreat and coincided with in-person training sessions. These sessions built on previous coursework designed as a pre-requisite for Gwekwaadziwin’s Indigenous Land-Based Counsellor Training (ILBC) Program. This training emphasizes understanding colonization’s impact, intergenerational trauma, and advancing Truth and Reconciliation, as well as mental health and addictions care.
So far, nearly half of our staff have completed this training, with the remainder scheduled to participate over the next year.
“This training is important to us because we are committed to providing effective addiction and mental health care to Ontario youth and their families, including Indigenous communities,” noted Dan Ardis, Senior Director of Operations and Campus Life at Pine River Institute. “We recognize the need to deepen our knowledge and capacity to serve all youth effectively, and we are deeply grateful for the learning Gwekwaadziwin Miikan is providing us.”
Back at the pond, the Gwekwaadziwin Miikan team patiently guided staff and students as they swapped positions in the 12-person canoe, ensuring everyone had a turn to paddle a circuit. Sam explained that the canoe was handcrafted by participants in their program on a remote island using local Manitoulin cedar, ash, maple, and oak. The canoe’s inner ribs are adorned with unique artwork, each piece representing the identity and messages of the participants. At the stern, the logos of both Gwekwaadziwin Miikan and Pine River are proudly displayed, symbolizing our enduring relationship.
Forward, Gwekwaadziwin Miikan hopes to host annual canoe races, and with this special gift, a future team of Pine River students may look forward to navigating the waters together.
In the meantime, the canoe now hangs in our main gathering space, the Minden Room, named after Pine River’s founder Karen Minden. Positioned to face Manitoulin Island, it showcases the beautiful interior artwork, a reminder of the ongoing connection and shared journey between our communities.
Miigwech, Gwekwaadzawin Miikan! Pine River is beyond grateful for your incredible gift and knowledge sharing.