A guided nature walk reframing green spaces through a Black and Indigenous lens.
Experience the city's green spaces differently. Come out on a guided nature walk in High Park for Black young adults in Toronto!
Whether you've never thought of yourself as "outdoorsy" or you're a seasoned naturalist, this event is for you. Through Black and Indigenous-led storytelling that will bring the land to life, connect with nature and each other as we reframe public green spaces as sites of healing, restoration and leisure for the Black community.
Join us afterwards for a picnic sourced from a local Black-owned business. This is time for active reflection, meaningful connection, community-building, and simply taking up space in nature.
Come solo or bring the whole group chat! It's about centering Black joy as an act of resistance, resilience, and protest.
Please note that this event is for Black young adults, particularly those who are curious about or unfamiliar with the city's natural spaces. Seasoned Black naturalists and environmental professionals are welcome to help foster multi-generational learning, networking, and the ongoing transfer of environmental knowledge.
About the Speakers
Carolynne Crawley
Carolynne Crawley, founder of Msit No'kmaq and cofounder of Turtle Protectors, is a woman of Mi'kmaw, Black and Irish ancestry and is from Mi’kma’ki territory, also known today as Nova Scotia. But Tkaronto has been her home since childhood. She grew up with a deep relationship with Mother Earth that her Mother fostered. As a child she would bring home orphaned and injured animals to receive care from wildlife rehabbers or reunite lost animal companions with their humans. Carolynne still honours this commitment today. She is dedicated to social and environmental justice and is passionate about reconnecting people with the land, waters, and all beings as there is no separation between us. She leads walks and facilitates webinars about the responsibility to reconcile with Mother Earth and shares ways to deepen one's relationship with all beings. She is a Forest Therapy Guide/Mentor and Trainer, Blanket Exercise Facilitator, a Holistic Nutritionist, Storyteller and Educator, Public Speaker, a Co-Producer of a documentary and a member of the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle. Carolynne has also worked in food security for 12 years and previously worked as a Child & Youth Worker for two decades.
Jacqueline L. Scott is a scholar, writer and activist on race and nature. Recently completing her PhD at the University of Toronto, OISE, in the department of Social Justice Education, her work examines the intersection of race and nature and why natural spaces have not always been accessible or welcoming for Black communities. Scott is a community director at the Institute for Public Art and Sustainability, Evergreen Brickworks, and a former fellow at the Safina Center. Scott volunteers as a land steward, and as a hike and bike leader with outdoor clubs. Jacqueline leads Black History Walks in Toronto and is the author of travel and adventure books, from a Black perspective. Her thesis is titled Being Black and outdoors: The perception of the wilderness in the Canadian imagination.
Dr. Jacqueline Scott
About the Organizers
Nakeiro Ayudo
Nakeiro is a TMU Urban and Regional Planning student specializing in Environmental and Ecological Planning with a background in event planning and community engagement. Her work is driven by a desire to build vibrant Black community in natural and public green spaces across the city with the ultimate goal of increasing accessibility for Black and equity-deserving folks. She is also an active member of the Black creative space in Toronto, utilizing Black creative expression and story telling as a form of empowerment and respite.
Selma is an urban planner and historian who uses heritage as a tool to work towards unity between humans and within Black community. Through a creative approach to education, whether it be history or urban inequities, her work bridges intergenerational storytelling, equitable reform, and civic participation. She holds a bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from Toronto Metropolitan University and five years experience working in the heritage sector. Prior to her current role as a Strategist at Monumental Projects, Selma was the Program Coordinator and Manager of Public Programs at Heritage Toronto.
Selma Elkhazin
Fechi Onyegbule
Fechi Onyegbule is a recent graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University with a background in Psychology and Social Innovation. Outside of the classroom she is a fierce community organizer and advocate having collaborated in programming with the Black Youth Farming collective, co-founded Ujiima Social Justice Club, and collaborated with several community organizations and university initiatives focused on gender-based violence, food sovereignty, and racial justice. Fechi’s work bridges all the many entry points of healing from music and art to food security and community connectivity.
Filming and Photography Notice
Facilitators will be filming and photographing this event. By attending, you consent to the use of your image and likeness being used in promotional materials.
Please let us know if you do not wish to be photographed or filmed.
Event Logistics
Wear comfortable footwear and dress appropriately for the weather and terrain. The walking pace will be gentle.
This is a rain or shine event. In the event of severe weather, e.g. thunderstorms, we will make an informed decision on the day and notify attendees as soon as possible via the email they register with.
Please refer to your event reminder email (keep an eye on your inbox!) from information@rciscience.ca for more information on where to find us on the day of the event.
By attending this event, you agree to adhere to the Code of Conduct.