10 days on the Grand River to learn about Indigenous culture

Paddlers have embarked on a 10-day trip along the Grand River to learn more about Indigenous culture and history. CTV’s Spencer Turcotte has more.

A group of paddlers embarked Wednesday on a 10-day journey along the Grand River for the 10th year in a row.

The trek is called Two Row on the Grand and its purpose is to teach people about Indigenous culture and history.

“We are paddling the Grand River to remind folks that, yes, this does belong to us,” explained Ellie Joseph, Two Row on the Grand co-founder, just before setting off.

Joseph and fellow co-founder, Jay Bailey, began organizing the trip after the pair took part in a similar trek along the Hudson River in 2013.

Both journeys take inspiration from the Two Row Wampum.

“It’s an over 400-year-old treaty and people really don’t know what it is, but we deserve to teach, and we need people to learn about this treaty,” Joseph said.

The treaty symbolizes a foundational principle of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect based on parallel paths. That’s why the group will paddle in two rows, when possible, to embody the concept.

“167 people registered,” said Bailey. “Non-Indigenous people develop a deeper understanding of what has actually happened, how deeply the trauma goes.”

Those with Indigenous roots also learn more about their own culture.

“I always say that the Grand River is a classroom, really, because that’s where we’re learning,” said Joseph.

First-time paddler Margy Moorhouse won’t make the entire 10-day journey from Cambridge to Port Maitland but hopes to soak in as much as she can in the first five days of the trip.

“Being a part of an opportunity to have all nations together really moved my heart,” Moorhouse said.

Paddlers from all strokes of life pushed their canoes and hopped into the water by 9 a.m. Wednesday. Many felt prepared for the physical challenges of the trek.

“I’m hoping to even things out a little bit,” said first-time paddler Peter Monos, who hiked up his shorts to take advantage of the extreme sun and heat.

He also wore a hat with a dragonfly decoy attached to it.

“It’s to help with the flies, dragonflies, whatever,” Monos said. “But it does nothing for the mosquitoes, not a damn thing.”

The group will stop at many checkpoints along the way and Joseph said there will be plenty of opportunities to meet people.

“We always find that everyone walks away with a real immense understanding of the Six Nations of the Grand River people,” she said.

The ultimate goal is to row with the current, and find peace, all while preventing any rocking of the boats – in more ways than one.