For four days in late August, nine students and three faculty members from the University College of the North (UCN) stepped away from lecture halls and textbooks, immersing themselves in a living classroom guided by the Coast Salish Nation in Victoria, BC. Their journey was part of EDU.4045: Land-Based Teaching & Learning for Sustainable Development—a course designed to deepen understanding of Indigenous worldviews, sustainable practices, and the interconnection between land, language, and learning for Kenanow students.
This trip was hosted in collaboration with UCN’s Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation (IIR) Team, emphasizing education and transformation.
“The land is a living history — every tree, stream, and trail tells a story.”
Rooted Teachings
On the first day, students were welcomed to Royal Roads University and the Esquimalt Lagoon territories. Elders Butch Dick and Frank George of the Songhees Nation shared teachings on the region’s history and cultural significance, emphasizing the importance of listening to the land and how Indigenous languages serve as powerful vessels of knowledge, worldview, and place-based learning.
On day two, the group travelled to Tower Point Park, where harvesting medicinal plants and discussions of archaeology revealed how traditional knowledge and scientific inquiry can work together to inform sustainable futures.
On the third day, students went to Goldstream Provincial Park, where Elder Mary Ann Thomas guided them through traditional plant use and the cultural importance of the land. A hands-on cooking session with local ingredients brought lessons of health, sustainability, and Indigenous approaches to nutrition to the dinner table.
The journey culminated on the fourth day at Highrock Cairn Park and the RRU Boathouse. Ceremonial cleansing, creating traditional plant bouquets, and reflection circles gave students space to integrate their learnings and envision how to bring them back into their own classrooms and communities.
A Tapestry of Knowledge
Throughout the trip, storytelling, food preparation, and ceremony wove together a tapestry of cultural humility, respect, and reciprocity. Students engaged with Elders and Knowledge Keepers, building relationships that went beyond academic learning.
The course underscored that Indigenous leadership, languages, and food systems are not just cultural expressions but integral to sustainability, resilience, and education. For many, the experience was personal and professional, renewing their confidence in carrying land-based teachings into their roles as educators and community leaders.
Looking Forward
This initiative, supported by the Rideau Hall Foundation, highlighted the transformative potential of land-based education. As students returned home, they carried memories of ceremonies, shared meals, and a renewed purpose: to listen to the land, teach with humility, and honour the knowledge that has sustained Indigenous communities for generations.
