Koffler Arts at the Crane Gathering Space

Koffler Arts is excited to collaborate with Dr. Jonathan Ferrier, Indigenous Botanical Content Lead for the Botannica Tirannica exhibition, and with the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) to welcome a group to the Crane Gathering Space, an Indigenous cultural feature located at the northern trailhead of the Credit Valley Trail (CVT) at Island Lake Conservation Area in Orangeville.

The inspiration for this space comes from the Ajijaak Dodem (Crane Clan). In Anishinaabe tradition, the Ajijaak is known as an ‘echo maker’ and is the speaker for the clans. Ajijaak is an announcer of things to come. The sandhill crane also uses Island Lake as a stopover site during its annual migration.

The Crane Gathering Space was developed by the CVT Indigenous Roundtable, an Indigenous led committee made up of community representation from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Cree and Huron-Wendat First Nations, in collaboration with CVC and CVT partners.

This space will help nurture connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, provide a space for ceremonial practices and unique recreational experiences.

Hear from Dr. Jonathan Ferrier, who was involved in the collaborative design of the space (and serves as Indigenous Botanical Content Lead for Botannica Tirannica), and Raiden Levesque, Senior Indigenous Outreach Coordinator for the Credit Valley Trail, about Indigenous history and traditions on this land.

For those wishing to carpool, limited seats may be available with drivers leaving from and returning to Koffler Arts at Youngplace (180 Shaw Street).

With gratitude, some text above is from Credit Valley Conservation.