Algonquin College organizes volunteer day at Mādahòkì Farm

The overcast skies we no match for the sunny dispositions as a large crowd gathered at Mādahòkì Farm on Wednesday.

As the summer solstice approaches, Algonquin College brought together its partners PCL Construction, TD Bank Group, Nokia Canada and more than 95 volunteers for two days of volunteering. The “Build Days” included improving key farm features as well as providing new animal housing structures and upgrading the Legacy Trail.

“Algonquin College takes pride in its commitment to making Indigenous Knowledge and Truth and Reconciliation an integral part of the institution’s culture,” said Claude Brulé, Algonquin College President and CEO. “Bringing together our valued partners who, like us, are committed to Truth and Reconciliation to work on such a meaningful project is a wonderful way to help our community. It also provides an opportunity to continue our Indigenous learning.”

Volunteer teams comprised of employees from PCL Construction, TD and Nokia were split into groups and rotated through various projects, including laying mulch and raking the 1.7 km of Heritage Trail; collecting and refreshing Trail Reconciliation stones; assembling and constructing new bird feeders and chicken coops; assembling picnic tables; and additional site clean-up in preparation for Mādahòkì Farm’s upcoming Solstice Festival.

The partnership is part of an Algonquin College initiative called DARE6. DARE6 is a collaborative partnership Algonquin College provides to select corporate stakeholders to help further the College’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

“This Build Day program with Mādahòkì Farm is an important reflection of PCLs’ commitment to supporting Indigenous-led initiatives in the Ottawa region as a part of our broader DARE6 partnership. Our volunteer teams are dedicated to helping the team at Mādahòkì Farm prepare for their summer of essential educational programming in the way we know best — building from the ground up,” said Paul Knowles, Vice-President and District Manager, PCL Construction.

“TD is thrilled to participate in the Mādahòkì Farm DARE6 volunteer day. This collaboration with Algonquin College and our DARE6 Partners is a true reflection of what Mādahòkì means — ‘to share the land’ — and we are grateful to come together in a space where we can reconnect with the land and share traditional teachings and gifts from an Indigenous perspective,” said Joshua Cayer, Manager, Community Relations at TD Bank. “Through this sponsorship, we build on our commitment to take action in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and work towards a greater understanding between Indigenous Peoples and non-indigenous people in Canada.”

Linda Krebs, Campus Program Manager, Nokia Canada, said “The partnership between Nokia, Algonquin College, TD, and PCL Construction in the DARE6 initiative shows a collective effort to create meaningful opportunities for Indigenous learning and engagement. Such collaborations can have a significant impact on building stronger relationships between organizations and Indigenous communities, promoting mutual respect and fostering a sense of pride and belonging.

“We have had an overwhelming response from our employees and it’s encouraging to see how much desire there is for integrating Indigenous reconciliation into our culture and actively working towards positive change. By participating in events like the Mādahòkì Farm Build Day and supporting initiatives like DARE6, Nokia and its employees are contributing to the broader goal of Indigenous reconciliation and helping to create a more inclusive and equitable society.”

“We are grateful to Algonquin College and the DARE6 collaborators for their help in preparing our site for the upcoming Summer Solstice Festival and for the lasting legacy of site improvements to enhance visitor experience year-round and for years to come,” said Trina Mather Simard, CEO of Indigenous Experiences / Mādahòkì Farm.