The Trails of Our Ancestors canoe trip was a meaningful two-week learning experience in the Northwest Territories that allowed me to connect with the land, culture, and community in a deeper way. The trip is called “Trails of Our Ancestors” because we travelled the same routes that our ancestors used hundreds of years ago along their traplines and between communities. This is an experience that takes place every year, and I plan to continue taking part in it for the foreseeable future. It was extremely powerful to be part of that experience, especially alongside my dad, my brother, and my sister.

Through this experience, I learned the importance of land-based learning and how powerful it can be for understanding history, identity, and relationships. Being on the land and learning through experience helped me see how education can go beyond the classroom. This experience continues to influence my teaching by encouraging me to create opportunities for students to learn through hands-on, place-based experiences that are meaningful, engaging, and connected to their lives.