Path to Reconciliation

Address: 13990 Dufferin St., King City, ON L7B 1B3

By Car: The Path entrance is located within the Seneca Polytechnic King Campus, just off Dufferin Street and Seneca Court. It is west of Parking Lot A.

Parking: Parking Lot A is most suitable for Path access. Permits for daily, evening and weekend parking can be purchased through the Honk mobile payment system.

By Transit: The Path to Reconciliation is a 10-minute walk from the Seneca College Stop #1706, serviced by the Route 088 Bathurst Northbound bus. Route 088 runs between the Finch GO Bus Terminal and Seneca Polytechnic King Campus.

By Shuttle Bus (for Seneca community only): The campus shuttle bus picks up and drops off students at the King, Newnham and Seneca@York campuses. The shuttle operates between campuses only and does not stop at other locations. Please check the Campus Shuttle Wiki on MySeneca for route times. Note: There is no service on weekends, holidays or Study Week. For up-to-date information on closures, check the complete shuttle schedule.

Printable map (pdf)

Trail markers are placed along the Path to Reconciliation to help guide your journey. Follow the orange T-shirt markers to stay on the designated trail and move in the right direction. There are 139 markers in total, each representing one of the 139 residential schools that once operated across Canada. The orange T-shirt is a symbol of remembrance, honouring the children who were taken and the survivors who continue to share their truths.

Anishinaabe ways of knowing centre around the clan system, known as the Dodem. The clan system is a traditional governance structure that organizes communities into clans based on familial and spiritual connections. Each clan has specific roles and responsibilities, such as leadership, teaching, medicine and protection. Keep a lookout for the symbols along the Path.

Murdoch introduces himself, the concept of learning by listening to the land and the Anishinaabe practice of teaching through oral tradition. 

Isaac talks about how early-morning bird song is healing medicine that the world and every living thing on it needs to survive. When birds breathe in, they’re absorbing all the power from the trees and the flowers and other plants. When they exhale, they’re sending healing love out into the world.  

Isaac tells the story of how the birch tree got its markings. In this story, the boastful, smooth-skinned birch tree learns a lesson about kindness, respect and dignity for all, receiving its black marks in the process. 

Isaac tells the story of how a disagreement between Moose and Suckerfish results in Suckerfish earning the dent seen on all suckerfish heads. Moose asks to cross the creek where the suckerfish are spawning, but the chief suckerfish won’t share the space and learns a hard lesson about not showing kindness to neighbours. 

Isaac explains the importance of ceremony and the relationship between human ceremony and nature. Just as nature is always trying to heal itself, ceremony is meant to be healing, too. Not only that, but ceremony is always present in everything we do. Ceremony, the Anishinaabemowin language and the land are all one. 

Isaac talks about the various lessons we can learn from nature about how to live properly on this planet. We can follow animal tracks to find the best routes over the land, and we can learn from the trees how to be kind to one another, even if we might look different, speak different languages or believe different things. 

Natural law is the great law of the land. Natural laws come from the forest, the elements, the stars and clouds. Unlike human-made laws, natural law is everywhere, including within all of us. It’s how we learn to nourish, feed, respect and protect everyone on the land, including the land itself. 

Isaac talks about the healing power of the colour green, and how a beautiful green blanket of plants and animals is woven across the land every spring, filling the land with love, hope, courage, respect, strength and humility. 

Isaac tells the story of how Nanabozho, the spirit who created the world, battled the serpents of the underworld to keep his power. In the end, Nanabozho gets help from the Forever Lasting Tree, a hemlock tree.

Isaac explains how plants and animals give their lives so we can be well. Even the sun, and the sounds of thunder and waves crashing against the shore are medicine. In return for this healing nourishment, it’s important for us to give thanks to the Earth.

Isaac lists the ways in which diversity creates rich, powerful and healthy ecosystems. Different plants, animals, seasons, humidity levels, fungi, minerals and more work together to share their strengths with one another, ensuring everyone is better off. Humans should embrace this diversity in nature and in ourselves, to build a rich, wholesome and just society.

Isaac explains why the white pine is considered the chief of all the trees in the forest. Its physical traits — its mighty height and weight — are part of the reason, but so is the way it communicates to other trees and plants through its far-reaching root system.

Isaac reminds us that understanding Indigenous knowledge is key to all of us being able to live harmoniously on the land, not as liabilities harming the land, but as assets and stewards. He urges us to seek out Indigenous knowledge wherever we can and to incorporate these lessons into our daily lives.