Alison Lovell: 09-04-2025

Last week, Carol, Sandy and I had the pleasure of joining educators, artists, and community members at the Biinaagami Teacher Training Workshop, co-hosted by Canadian Geographic Education and Harmony Movement at The Hub in Downsview Park, Toronto. It was a day rooted in learning and exploring new ways to bring Indigenous knowledge into the classroom, with a focus on our large-scale interactive Biinaagami floor map of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence watershed.

The team at the event. Photo courtesy of Alison.

The workshop started with a smudging ceremony led by Katie Dawson, followed by powerful storytelling from Sky-Deer. Throughout the day, I deepened my understanding of Two-Eyed Seeing, Water Walks, Wampum belts, and the significance of sharing a strawberry drink.

One of the highlights of the day was working with our large-scale interactive floor map and learning to use its incredible augmented reality features. This map is more than a teaching tool—it’s an immersive experience that brings geography, ecology, and Indigenous knowledge to life. It will not only serve as an educational tool in schools, but also as a resource for community outreach programs, helping educators, students, and community members deepen their understanding of water and our shared responsibility to protect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence watershed.

Exploring the Biinaagami floor map. Photo courtesy of Alison.

We all left the workshop with an “attitude of gratitude.” 

A big thank you to Meredith, Katie, and all the organizers for welcoming us into such a meaningful learning space.