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On of my first experiences in Swan Lake First Nation was camping in a teepee - I have never slept better. What I Have Learned - My Journey With the Ojibwe of Swan Lake First Nation Finn Rachul For my family, as a thank you for the relentless kindness and support they have all shown me. My name is Finn. I'm writing from the community of Swan Lake First Nation (SLFN) where I have lived for the past 4 years. As a Mennonite guy from Morden, my path has taken me to places I never

Dave passes on his knowledge to his students in the forests of the Tinker Creek valley. David Scott An oral story recording turned to text. 2026-05-03 (Dave) Finn and I were sitting on the deck this evening reading a book about birds and the loss of them. This triggered a memory of mine about my life on the reserve as a kid. I remember seeing birds dead in the ditches when I was younger. I was playing along the ditch of what we now called Beaverdam Road, and I remember seeing

The Six Seasons of Ojibwe Life March 15, 2026 David Scott and Finn Rachul The way we track time can radically change how we relate to the world. Today, the calendar is linear - it begins in January and ends in December, with 4 seasons clearly mapped out for those of us in Manitoba. Modern life attaches us to a rigid timescale with little reference to what happens outside our homes and workplaces. Today, we are so used to this way of life that it's difficult to imagine other

A quickly made beaver dam frozen to the ground. The beaver here was found on the move across Swan Lake during the winter season - an unusual and worrying sign for someone like Dave. Life in the Snow - Understanding the Winter Environment and What It Means for the Future David Scott and Finn Rachul March 3, 2026 For the Ojibwe people, life in the environment is a year-round endeavor. In fact, the Ojibwe lived by a six-season calendar, something which we will write about more i

The Cost of Forgetting: Traditional Ojibwe Teachings For Today's World Written by Finn Rachul Sourced from conversation with David Scott October 18, 2025 There are few people left who understand the ins and outs of what life was once like for the traditional Ojibwe tribes. Dave and I frequently talk about these oral histories as they really paint a picture of the value system of the traditional people alive today. These stories continue to be very relevant today, even in a ti

This article touches on similar subjects to Water For Generations - Ojibwe Traditions and Resisting Drought . For an expanded discussion...

This article references several others. It is difficult to describe these stories in one go as the subjects are very complex. For a...

Dave Scott's managed beaver colony wetland at Indian Springs Valley - home to a diverse range of plants and animals. Traditional Ojibwe...

Image source: David Scott and Finn Rachul: Presentation - Indigenous Knowledge and Being a Steward of the Environment Ojibwe Knowledge...

Olivia Goderis' end-of-season presentation as part of the 2025 Youth Environmental Stewardship Program. (0:00:00) Okay, you're good to...

Caleb Hofer's end-of-season presentation as part of the 2025 Youth Environmental Stewardship Program. (0:00:00) Okay so my name is Caleb...

Ben Goderis' end-of-season presentation as part of the 2025 Youth Environmental Stewardship Program. (0:00:00) Hello everyone, my name...

Terrell Scott-Catcheway's end-of-season presentation as part of the 2025 Youth Environmental Stewardship Program. (0:00:00) I'm just...

Tatiana Catcheway's end-of-season presentation as part of the 2025 Youth Environmental Stewardship Program. (0:00:00) Hello, my name is...

Zavi Braun's end-of-season presentation as part of the 2025 Youth Environmental Stewardship Program. (0:00:00) My name is Xavi Braun....

An example of a mature permaculture garden. Every plant has a purpose, from pollination, to pest control, to food production. Image...

Josy Flett showing off his catch while the land-based school group lays nets under the ice. Traveling the North - Our Experiences With...

Image Source: American Red Squirrel (Écureuil roux) - Travels With Birds On Squirrels and Oak Trees - Maintaining Water Cycles Finn...

Source: https://www.bwdh2o.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Bioindicators-of-Water-Quality.pdf This blog post is sourced from our...

Source: Finn Rachul This blog post is sourced from our Land-Based Mind Map - "DIY for Teachers" section. It is formatted as a lesson plan...