Msit No’kmaq: Deepening Relations with Mother Earth

I recall sitting in the tipi long ago during a Full Moon ceremony listening to an Elder share teachings about all of our relations. “Life is sacred and all life has purpose,” she said.  Those words have always stuck with me. I have learned from Elders in my life that we have an individual and collective responsibility to be in a healthy and reciprocal relationship with our Mother, the Earth. Many Indigenous teachings speak of the need to think of the seven generations ahead when making decisions. However, it isn't only about thinking of the people not yet born, but also of all living beings. All of creation must be considered as family and be treated with respect, love, and gratitude. We are intricately connected with one another, not separate from nature, but part of it. This has helped guide my vision to create opportunities for people to develop a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Mother Earth to ensure a better future for all beings. 

In 2019, I started a social enterprise Msit No’kmaq (All My Relations in Mi’kmaq) based in Tkaronto. I offer programs to corporate, grassroots, and not-for-profit organizations, as well as the public. My work focuses on reconciliation with the Earth, which continues to be harmed through colonial and capitalistic practices. I create opportunities for people to restore a healthier relationship with Mother Earth, so we may walk in balance with all of Creation once again. Some of the ways that I create these opportunities is through leading guided walks and programs in High Park to increase accessibility for those who are unable to travel to forests in the countryside. 11A recent initiative that I co-founded is Turtle Protectors, an Indigenous-led program that promotes land and wildlife stewardship: https://turtleprotectorshighpark.wordpress.com/ During a walk, I share knowledge of the surrounding plant relatives—from food and medicines to the black oak savannahs—and offer sensory experiences for people to slow down and connect with their surroundings, a practice also known today as forest therapy. Practices like forest, eco, and nature therapy aren’t new concepts. They are new words for practices that have existed since time immemorial amongst Indigenous peoples.  

To build a relationship with Mother Earth, it is important to prioritize spending time on the land. I suggest finding somewhere outdoors, whether a backyard, balcony, or a local park, and go there at least once a week. Prioritize it as you would schedule time with a loved one: be there for at least twenty minutes without an agenda, turn off your cell phone, and listen from your heart. If accessibility is a barrier, sitting by an open window to notice the sky, clouds, treetops, or passing birds is an option.  

When people take the time to build a deeper and more meaningful relationship with the lands, waters, and all beings, they will be more likely to defend and protect those relations from harm as they would do for a human loved one. So, I offer this invitation to build a deeper connection with nibi (water in Anishinaabemowin)—a thread that binds and sustains all living beings.