WYNNE SEES MOHAWK’S VISION OF HOPE
Wynne hails ‘beautiful gathering place’ as unique Hoop Dance site is unveiled
Spirit Vision Singers
greet Premier Kathleen Wynne (partially hidden) as Mohawk College unveils a new outdoor indigenous gathering space Tuesday. The space — an open-air pavilion, a fire circle, a water garden and a traditional garden — is said to be a first for an Ontario university or college. Learn more about the Hoop Dance space on
Native student Gregory Phillips considers Mohawk College’s new aboriginal gathering space to be a place to grow and share.
“I believe it will make the learning experience here much more memorable,” says Phillips, who just graduated in advanced police studies at Mohawk.
The Hoop Dance indigenous gathering place — an open air circular structure made of yellow Alaskan cedar pillars and steel hoops — was unveiled Tuesday.
Phillips, of Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, said the Hoop Dance is for him a symbol of Mohawk College’s welcoming environment.
“Here I’ve been able to dilute many misconceptions and move forward in respect, friendship and peace, which are the principles of the Two Row Wampum,” he says.
The Two Row Wampum Belt symbolizes an agreement of mutual respect and peace between North America’s first European settlers and the indigenous peoples already here.
Premier Kathleen Wynne, who attended the ceremony, called it “an absolutely beautiful gathering place … a living monument to culture, traditions, and knowledge of Ontario’s indigenous communities.”
She referred to it as an important place for students to learn and reflect, and as a physical representation of the knowledge that will help everyone understand reconciliation and the need to follow the path to mutual respect between indigenous people and non-aboriginals.
Mohawk president Ron McKerlie said Hoop Dance is the only landmark of its kind in Canada that the college is aware of.
Hoop Dance, which includes surrounding native gardens, was created to make Mohawk a more welcoming and inclusive college — and to create a space “that could be used to really infuse indigenous pedagogy (way of imparting knowledge) into a western ways of teaching,” he said.
Located in a large courtyard on campus, it will at various times be an outdoor classroom, hold traditional ceremonies, and be a place to meditate or quietly study.
Mohawk’s director of indigenous initiatives Ron McLester said, “It’s here for the benefit of not only Mohawk, but of the greater community. It’s meant to be a place of quiet reflection.”
The $650,000 project was supported by the college, the Mohawk Students Association and a private donor.
Student association president Kyle Datzkiw called it an incredible milestone that will enhance the experience of all Mohawk students.
The unveiling coincided with National Aboriginal Day and also marked the arrival of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
A circle of rocks placed in the shadow of the pavilion’s medicine wheel hoop will be permanently installed to mark it.
The college has 400 indigenous students among its 30,000 students.