Access First Story Toronto Stories on Driftscape App

There’s a new way to engage with Toronto’s significant Indigenous history and presence – the newly launched Driftscape app, available for free for Apple and Android devices.

Driftscape provides stories of Toronto’s Indigenous history alongside  other histories and content from other community providers. There are some new features in this app, such as notifications when you’re near a place of interest and self-guided audio tours, such as First Story’s tour of the lower Don River and lakeshore area. It’s a great way to get to know the city better!

And of course, the original First Story app remains available for free for Apple and Android as well. Keep an eye out for new content that will be added to both apps in the future!

Art Mentorship Opportunity for Indigenous Youth

Inter-Museum Print Exchange: Todmorden Mills

inPrint and First Story Toronto are currently seeking Indigenous youth aged 14 to 17 to participate in an Inter-Museum Print Exchange project happening at Todmorden Mills starting on August 12th. Workshops focus on the Indigenous history of the area around Todmorden Mills, starting with a tour lead by members of First Story.

Wyandot multi-media artist Catherine Tammaro and members of inPrint will be on hand as artist mentors that will work with youth to create print-based artwork inspired by the tour.

Registration for the workshops is free and participants must be able to attend most of the days.

• Saturday August 12th, 10:30am to 2:30pm (Rain date for the tour portion of project: Sunday, August 13th)
• Sunday August 20th, 10:30am to 2:30pm
• Sunday, August 27th, 10:30am to 2:30pm
• Saturday, September 9th, 10:30am to 2:30pm

Participants will receive:

• sketchbook and pencil set
• food and TTC fare provided throughout workshop series
• a certificate of mentorship from First Story Toronto
• $100 honorarium upon completion of the workshops

Up to 10 spots are available for this project. Register at inprint.collective@gmail.com.

Download the Flyer for the Inter-Museum Print Exchange at Tordmorden Mills.

TONIGHT – Free Public First Story Toronto Tour at Warden Woods

First Story Toronto guides Philip Cote and Jon Johnson will be leading a free public walking tour in Warden Woods to share the Indigenous history and plant knowledge in the area. The walk will start at 6:30pm at 40 Teesdale Pl and will be about 2.5 hours in length. The walk is being offered as part of StART’s Pharmacy Avenue Underpass Art Project. The lead artist for this project, Jarus, will also be there. We look forward to seeing you there!

FREE Public First Story Toronto Walking Tours – Indigenous Star Mapping along the Humber River

 

First Story Toronto is offering 2 FREE public tours of the Indigenous Star Mapping along the Humber River over the next 2 weeks:

• Tour #1
  • Time: Saturday, July 29th, 8-11pm
  • Place: Meet at the North end of Old Mill TTC Station along Old Mill Trail
• Tour #2
  • Time: Saturday, August 5th, 8-11pm
  • Place: Meet at the North end of Old Mill TTC Station along Old Mill Trail

The tour will begin with an interpretive sneak peak of Resurge: First Timeline mural project which illuminates 13,500+ years of Indigenous people’s history and cosmology on Turtle Island. First Story Toronto guides will share stories of the historical significance of the area, Indigenous understandings of celestial bodies and their connection to terrestrial bodies. Participants will be invited to create and share their own star maps and hopes for the future. This tour is offered via the generous financial and logistical support of the Relay 2017.ca*. The tour is free but spaces are limited. Tickets for these tours are available via Eventbrite.

*Visit Relay2017.ca for a full list of programming along with rolling updates and announcements. Relay2017.ca has been made possible by the Toronto Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Government of Ontario, StreetARToronto, Community Foundations of Canada and the Government of Canada, the Toronto Star, Arts in the Park, and the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund. Special thanks to the City of Toronto and Friends of the Pan Am Path.

NOTE: There will be no subway service between Sheppard West and St George stations on July 29th. All trains on Line 1 will turn back southbound at St George Station. Shuttle buses will operate between Sheppard West and Lawrence West stations during this closure. Customers are encouraged to use existing east-west bus/streetcar routes to the Yonge portion of Line 1 or north-south bus routes to Line 2. Customers travelling on Line 2 who wish to travel northbound should transfer at Yonge-Bloor Station. There is no shuttle bus service from St George Station. Wheel-Trans buses will operate between Sheppard West and St George stations upon request.

FREE Public First Story Toronto Walking Tours – Indigenous Roots and Routes along the Humber River

First Story Toronto is offering 2 FREE public tours of the Indigenous Roots and Routes along the Humber River over the next 2 weeks:

• Tour #1
  • Time: Saturday, July 15th, 6-9pm
  • Place: Meet at the North end of Old Mill TTC Station along Old Mill Trail
• Tour #2
  • Time: Saturday, July 22nd, 6-9pm
  • Place: Meet at the North end of Old Mill TTC Station along Old Mill Trail

The tour will begin with an interpretive sneak peak of Resurge: First Timeline mural project which illuminates 13,500+ years of Indigenous people’s history and cosmology on Turtle Island. First Story Toronto guides will share stories of ancient and contemporary routes and roots through the area that shaped the form and character of Toronto, and participants will be invited to map and share their own roots and routes to the city. This tour is offered via the generous financial and logistical support of the Relay 2017.ca*. The tour is free but spaces are limited. Tickets for these tours are available via Eventbrite.

*Visit Relay2017.ca for a full list of programming along with rolling updates and announcements. Relay2017.ca has been made possible by the Toronto Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Government of Ontario, StreetARToronto, Community Foundations of Canada and the Government of Canada, the Toronto Star, Arts in the Park, and the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund. Special thanks to the City of Toronto and Friends of the Pan Am Path.

NOTE: There will be no subway service between Jane and Ossington stations on July 15th due to track work. Shuttle buses will operate between these stations during the closure. Wheel-Trans buses will operate between Jane and Ossington stations upon request. Customers can speak with any TTC staff member to request the service.

NOTE: There will be no subway service between St George and Broadview stations on July 22nd. Shuttle buses will operate between these stations during the closure. Wheel-Trans buses will also operate between St George and Broadview stations upon request. Customers can speak with any TTC staff member to request the service.

Kiskisiwin | remembering

Kiskisiwin | remembering is a short documentary by Metis PhD candidate Jesse Thistle, Professor Martha Steigman, and Professor Anders Sandberg. It provides a poignant counternarrative to the erasure of Indigenous peoples through colonial historical narratives, particularly at Black Creek Pioneer Village, and especially in the context of Canada 150. Recommended viewing for educators and classrooms at all levels.

Discounted Tickets for Anishinaabeg: Art & Power at the ROM

From June 17 – November 19, 2017, the ROM is featuring Anishinaabeg: Art and Power, an exhibition of Anishinaabeg stories and understandings as told through Anishinaabeg artistic expression. Co-curated by Arni Brownstone, Alan Corbiere, and Saul Williams, and interpreted with the aid of local Indigenous docents, the exhibit is grounded in Indigenous expertise and perspectives.

You can also receive 20% off the regular ticket price by using the ‘FIRSTSTORYTO’ promo code!

 

Public tours by First Story Toronto / Wild Foragers Society every weekend in June 2017

We are pleased to be co-leading a series of public tours with Wild Foragers Society on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of June 2017. The tours are being offered as part of this year’s Subtle Technologies Festival. The tours will start and end at the Evergreen Brickworks and will focus on Indigenous histories of Toronto and edible / medicine plants in the area. Each weekend is a different theme! Registration is required and the event is pay-what-you-can. We hope to see you there!

FREE First Story Toronto Walking Tours for Myseum Intersections Festival, March 11th and 25th

We are pleased to announce that First Story Toronto, in collaboration with our partner Drift Toronto, will be offering 2 FREE public walking tours for the Myseum Intersections Festival. Here are the details:

Tour #1 – Indigenous Knowledge and Storytelling along the Lower Don

Join Philip Cote and Jon Johnson for an interactive storytelling tour of Indigenous medicines, landscapes, and histories of accomplishment, struggle, and resilience in the Lower Don and downtown area.

Time: Saturday, March 11th, 2-4pm
Place: We will meet near north end of the Corktown Common, where Bayview Ave. intersects with Lawren Harris Square.

Register through Eventbrite for your free tickets to this tour!

Tour #2 – Ancestors and Identity in North York

Join First Story Toronto guides Sarena Johnson and Brian MacLean for an interactive storytelling tour of the North York neighbourhood surrounding Gibson House Museum, highlighting stories from this area’s 12,000 years of Indigenous history and exploring how everyone’s ancestry and identity can be honoured in public places.

Time: Saturday, March 25th, 2-4pm
Place: Gibson House Museum, 5172 Yonge St, North York

Register through Eventbrite for your free tickets to this tour!

This year’s Winter Solstice Walk

Making Indigenous Connections in the Lower Don Valley!

Join us with Toronto Green Community, Lost Rivers, Toronto Community
Garden Network, Toronto Field Naturalists, Evergreen Brick Works and friends!

Celebration, stories, and exploration of the beautiful landscape of Don River Valley. Discover Mud Creek by exploring the deep roots of the area, and learn about what is happening now with a view towards reconciling our relations with each other and Mother Earth.

Come early to Evergreen Brick Works early to enjoy its Winter Village (opening December 10, from 11am-7pm on weekends).

Itinerary at Evergreen Brick Works, Sunday Dec. 18:
1:00pm – Celebration begins inside the BMO Atrium with hot chocolate, conversation and an opening ceremony. Hear about Rivers Rising, RAINscapeTO, the Mud Creek Community Canoe Project, and plans for Don River Valley Park.

2:00pm – We head outdoors for a walk to continue with stories and explorations of Indigenous Connections with Jon Johnson, Brian MacLean, Vivian Recollet and friends. Kids welcome.

3:45pm – Walk ends at the Watershed Consciousness Wall and a short closing ceremony. What better way to celebrate the arrival of winter?!

Walk Leaders: Members of First Story Toronto, Toronto Green Community, Lost Rivers, and friends.

Space is limited so reserve here if you can join us: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rivers-rising-winter-solstice-celebration-walk-registration-30005389929?aff=efbevent

Our beautiful photo from last year’s event (below) is courtesy of Arabi Rajeswaran.