Walk together through story and land at the Humber Arboretum

Experience a self-guided StoryWalk featuring Walking Together by Mi’kmaw Elder Albert Marshall and Humber Professor Louise Zimanyi

By Chris Clay on
Reading time:
Two people are in a forest beside a sign that reads StoryWalk.

The Humber Polytechnic community is encouraged to participate in a self-guided experience at the Humber Arboretum that celebrates land-based play and co-learning, Indigenous ways of knowing and of the deep connections between children, land and community.   

The special outdoor StoryWalk features the children’s picture book Walking Together that was co-authored by Mi’kmaw Elder Albert Marshall and Humber Early Childhood Education Professor Louise Zimanyi. 

As part of the experience, participants will enjoy the story one page at a time as they traverse the Arboretum. The book, which was illustrated by Emily Kewageshig from Saugeen First Nation, follows a group of young children connecting to nature throughout the seasons. 

A group of people stand in a forest listening to another person speak.

It also introduces readers to Etuaptmumk, the gift of multiple perspectives in the Mi’kmaw language or Two-Eyed Seeing. The book is now available in both English and Mi’kmaw. 

The StoryWalk was created in partnership with Humber’s Indigenous Education & Engagement, Humber Early Childhood Education (ECE), Humber and the University of Guelph-Humber Library, the City of Toronto and the Humber Arboretum. 

It launched on September 19 in advance of Truth and Reconciliation Week. ECE students walked with Elder Marshall, Zimanyi and co-teacher Jennifer Rose Smith past the ponds and Eastern Painted Turtles into the forest of Sugar Maples.  

ECE student Brittney Douce reflected that walking together in nature reminded her that “we should take action and acknowledgment from the animals around us, observe and do as they do. Show kindness, trust and peace.” 

The self-guided experience (beginning near the Centre for Urban Ecology) is available through to the end of November. 

A person looks at a sign on a tree in the Humber Arboretum.

Zimyani notes the book’s core teachings will have meaning for adults as well as children and that the whole Humber community is invited to enjoy the StoryWalk. 

The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier Vermont. 

The StoryWalk will return in April for the Belonging Outdoors: Nature-Based Early Learning Conference.