Plants as Our Ancestors: Grade 12 Students Explore Indigenous Knowledge at Northcote Farm

On May 7, students from Ms. Thalen’s Grade 12 AP Biology class and Ms. Boomgaardt’s Grade 12 World Issues class gathered at Northcote Farm for a powerful afternoon of storytelling, reflection, and land-based learning with Indigenous educator Johl Whiteduck from Miinikaan Innovation and Design.

The experience centred around Johl’s presentation, Plants as Our Ancestors, which invited students to shift their perspective on the natural world and consider the many gifts offered by the land—not as commodities, but as relatives and teachers connected to generations of knowledge and care.

The afternoon began with a special land acknowledgement shared at the farm:

Students were then introduced to the concept of the four sacred medicines—sage, cedar, sweetgrass, and tobacco—and participated in a smudge ceremony before heading out onto the farm.

Guided by storytelling and traditional teachings, Johl led students on a walk through the property in search of “ancestors” represented through plants and trees. Stops at cedar and birch trees offered opportunities to learn about their cultural significance within Johl’s Anishnawbe and Algonquin traditions, as well as the ways plants can serve as sources of medicine, nourishment, memory, and connection.

For Ms. Boomgaardt’s World Issues students, the experience also connected back to earlier classroom discussions on food insecurity and food sovereignty, encouraging students to think critically about relationships between land, sustainability, and community wellbeing.

Johl shared aspects of his own story throughout the afternoon. Anishnawbe and Algonquin of the Mink Clan, with roots in Nipissing First Nation, he has spent more than two decades working in Indigenous food sovereignty through initiatives including NishDish, Ojibiikaan Indigenous Cultural Network, and Miinikaan Innovation and Design. His work focuses on reclaiming traditional food systems, protecting ancestral seeds, and creating spaces where people can reconnect with Indigenous agroecology and land-based learning.

Students also learned exciting news for the future of Northcote Farm: beginning next September, Miinikaan’s consultation team will work alongside the school to help create an Indigenous healing garden at the farm, providing opportunities for ongoing learning and connection for years to come.

The afternoon offered students a meaningful opportunity to learn beyond the classroom, deepening their understanding of Indigenous perspectives, environmental stewardship, and the importance of reciprocal relationships with the natural world.