Mohawk breaks ground on Indigenous Gathering Place that will honour traditions and promote cultural awareness

Bertha Skye, an Elder with the Cree Nation of the Six Nations of the Grand River, leads the groundbreaking ceremony for Mohawk's Indigenous Gathering Place which is set to open next summer at the Fennell Campus.

Mohawk College broke ground today on an Indigenous Gathering Place that will open at the college's main campus next summer. Today's ceremony was led by Bertha Skye, an Elder from the Cree Nation at Six Nations of the Grand River.

The space, which will honour Aboriginal traditions and promote cross-cultural awareness, is comprised of four elements: an open-air pavilion, a fire circle, a water garden and a traditional garden. The Indigenous Gathering Place is inspired by the Aboriginal concepts of inclusiveness, the sun and moon calendars, the Medicine Wheel, and the creation story.

The Indigenous Gathering Place will be located between the H-Wing and A-Wing at Mohawk’s Fennell Campus. The site will afford views from surrounding buildings and seating will accommodate 60+ people. This site will serve as a venue for traditional ceremonies, a space for teaching, a place to meditate or quietly study.