About TRACKS

Purpose statement:

TRACKS (TRent Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge and Science) facilitates dynamic, land-based youth programming that braids multiple scientific approaches by centring Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

Program Intentions:

1. To offer youth opportunities to actively engage with a multitude of worldviews to further understand and develop their personal skills, gifts, and tools.

2. To contribute to hands-on InSTEAM (Indigenous Science Technology Engineering Art and Math) learning opportunities from the elementary to post-secondary level.

3. To facilitate spaces where intergenerational knowledge can be shared and mentoring relationships can be nurtured.

4. To provide spaces where youth can be empowered to build relationships, learn together, and grow as leaders while honouring their diverse identities and backgrounds.

5. To encourage youth to deepen reciprocal relationships within their environments and embody understandings of their responsibilities to the land.

6. To collaborate with Indigenous Peoples, school boards and community organizations to strengthen relationships and activate culturally responsive learning opportunities.

7. To foster meaningful employment and volunteer experiences for young people interested in land-centric InSTEAM work.

TRACKS is an educational program based on Michi Saagiig Anishnaabeg territory. We are hosted by Trent University within the Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences Program (IESS), and operates in partnership with founding partner organization Kawartha World Issues Centre and the First Peoples House of Learning. TRACKS offers a variety of programming including school workshops, camp programs and the Oshkwazin Indigenous Youth Leadership Program.

TRACKS School Workshops offers hands-on educational experiences for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth grades K-12. All of our programming is fun, hands-on, experiential, and braids multiple worldviews and scientific principles. 

TRACKS Camp Programs are offered on March Break and throughout the summer season. We collaborate with the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre and host our camps from our shared tipi space at their location. All of our camp programs are targeted to youth ages 6-12 and braid multiple worldviews and scientific principles.

The Oshkwazin Indigenous Youth Leadership Program offers a dedicated space for Indigenous youth ages 14-18 to gain valuable cultural experiences, training and leadership development opportunities. TRACKS Oshkwazin is currently funded through the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Youth Opportunities Fund.