Akiikaa

Check out our Youtube channel here.

AKIIKAA:
LAND-BASED LEARNING

Akiikaa provides graduate students (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous) with opportunities to learn about Indigenous Ways of Knowing from faculty, Elders, and their peers on and about the Land throughout their Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health (MPH-IH) at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.

Developed in 2021, Dr. Mashford-Pringle modified the MPH-IH program to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. Self reflection is a key component of land-based learning. As people understand their relationality to the plants, trees, animals, birds, fish, water, soil, air, insects (All in Creation/All My Relations), they can shift their thinking away from human beings dominating Mother Earth and our non-human kin to being in relationship and accountable to All in Creation.

To provide land-based learning for the MPH-IH students at Dalla Lana School of Public Health (U of T), Dr. Mashford-Pringle was awarded two Student Spaces Enhancement Fund grants which were used to upgrade the main building, added small cabins, and updated the septic system

Dr. Mashford-Pringle and Hart House Farm have applied for additional funding to build 20 "bunkies", which are small houses that house 1-2 people each and are intended to provide a COVID-19-compliant sleeping arrangement for those who wish to stay at the farm or partake in Akiikaa learning. Additionally, the sceptic system is being upgraded to potentially accommodate showers. Finally, outdoor recreation equipment and furniture are being purchased.

The following renovations were made to the Farm in 2020:

Addition of an AODA-compliant ramp:

Before: