A powerful learning experience took place at St. Peter High School as students, staff, and community members came together to learn from Algonquin Elder Chuck Commanda and his apprentice, Joanne, in the creation of a traditional birchbark canoe.
Honouring Indigenous Knowledge
This initiative was part of St. Peter’s School Action Plan (SAP) and reflected the school’s commitment to learning about Indigenous ways of knowing through hands-on experiences. For two weeks, classes from Construction, Arts, and Social Sciences visited the school atrium, where Elder Chuck guided them through the traditional methods of birchbark canoe construction.
Students learned not only the technical aspects of canoe building but also the deep cultural and historical significance of the birchbark canoe to Indigenous Peoples. One student, Simon Birch, spent significant time learning alongside Chuck and later apprenticed with him over the summer. This experience represented a meaningful continuation of his learning journey and a powerful example of experiential education in action.
Strengthening Connections with Elementary Schools
The project also created opportunities to welcome younger students from feeder elementary schools. Students from St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi were invited to visit St. Peter, meet Chuck, and learn directly from both the Elder and the high school students who were assisting with the canoe.
For St. Clare, the experience grew out of a close and ongoing partnership between the two schools. Staff shared:
We brought over two groups of students who had the chance to hear from the students who helped build the canoe, along with the teacher who supported the project. They learned about the materials found in nature, right here on Algonquin territory, that can be used to build a canoe. It was built entirely from natural materials. We are so lucky to be so close to St. Peter that we are able to build these learning partnerships with them.
Building Bridges for the Future
This collaboration between St. Peter and its feeder schools strengthened relationships and created mentorship opportunities. By engaging in shared learning experiences, younger students began to feel connected to the high school environment and saw St. Peter as a welcoming place to continue their education. In the words of St. Peter staff:
When they come to our school and learn with our students, it builds connections and makes high school less daunting.
A Lasting Legacy
The completed birchbark canoe now stands in the St. Peter atrium as both a striking centrepiece and a lasting reminder of the importance of Indigenous knowledge, partnership, and community learning. It symbolizes not just the art of canoe building but also the bridges that were built—between schools, between cultures, and between generations.
