As construction continues on the Kenhtè:ke Language and Cultural Centre, MPP Ric Bresee joined Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na (TTO) and Wintergreen Studios to announce a $486,600 Grow Grant, provided by the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) over three years, which will be used to deepen the relationship between humans and nature through the restoration of the Kenhtè:ke Language and Cultural Centre site.
“I am so very pleased to see the province supporting this important cultural and natural resource,” said Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP Ric Bresee. “The legacy of the Indigenous people in this region has been generations of sustainable stewardship. Building new platforms for Mohawk language and cultural training will help to ensure the long-term preservation of both the language and the lessons in ecological knowledge. I am very grateful to TTO for their efforts, and their willingness to share their ways of knowing with others. We all benefit from this fantastic project.”
This OTF grant will help with conservation and regeneration of the surrounding forests, wetlands, and meadows of two acres of the building’s nine-acre site. Proceeds will specifically enable the planting of native species and replacement of invasive species, the development of Mohawk/English resources to promote conservation and restoration initiatives, an expansion of existing gardens and development of Indigenous medicine gardens, and the building of public awareness of the interconnections between people and nature.
TTO has developed and delivered Mohawk language programs for two decades,” said Callie Hill, CEO of TTO. “TTO is now poised to expand our language program through an intense focus on land and culture at the new Kenhtè:ke Language and Cultural Centre, set to open this fall. This collaborative project with Wintergreen Studios aims to restore the damaged land surrounding the new centre, and expand the capacity of both organizations to deepen the awareness of the relationship between humans and important elements of the natural world.”
Through this initiative, participants will engage in practices that reflect Indigenous ecological knowledge, reinforcing Mohawk language and cultural ties through environmental regeneration. By promoting sustainable land management and celebrating Indigenous ways of knowing, the collaboration seeks to create a resilient ecological framework that honours both the land and its cultural heritage.
Ultimately, this partnership not only aims to restore the local environment but also to enrich the experiences of all involved, fostering a profound respect for nature and a commitment to sustainable practices that will benefit future generations.
“Wintergreen Studios has a long history of land-based programming and we’re pleased to expand our collaboration with TTO,” said Dr. Rena Upitis, Founding Director, Wintergreen Studios. “We work to preserve the natural ecosystems on our own land and assist other organizations to conserve and sustain biodiversity, providing opportunities for community members to be engaged in land conservation and regeneration so that we can continue to provide fundamental teachings to our youth and future generations.”
The timing of this project aligns with the completion of the new Kenhtè:ke Language and Cultural Centre and will expand TTO’s existing programming. This collaborative project will build capacity in the community, supporting the growth of the mandate of TTO and growing the number of persons within the community who understand how to sustain the complex and delicate balance needed life on earth.
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP Ric Bresee (center) tours the Cultural Centre site. (Photo: X)
