Big News! On Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), Friends of Wye Marsh announced free trail access for Indigenous people – First Nations, Métis and Inuit can now visit 362 days a year to walk the trails free of charge. This is part of a greater Diversity & Inclusion initiative on which they have been working in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada. They are excited to be able to allow free land access once again to those who walked here first.

On your next Wye Marsh visit you may also notice some new signage, both in the Display Hall and on the trails, translated into not only French, but also Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and Michif (the Ontario Métis language). We are grateful to our translators, Mitch Akerman (Anishinaabemowin) and René Laurin (French/Michif), both shown in the photo below, for their assistance with this initiative.

They are also introducing new Indigenous-led workshops (look for beading, moose hair tufting, and moccasin workshops in the fall); newly-designed camp programming (new stories, games, crafts, lessons and activities with an Indigenous focus have been added this year); and revamped educational programming (a return to Marsh School in September!); and they are in the early stages of shaping an Indigenous Advisory Committee to support us moving forward on decisions about programming and environmental stewardship.

For more information visit https://www.wyemarsh.com/