b'MOTHER EARTHinWe have so WALKING much to learn from TWO WORLDS our youth, and when theyre ready to speak, we need to be thereElder Whabagoonher insight into the failings of the past andKingston. My parents were incredible andShe recalls that even though they were how minds, hearts and institutions cangave us opportunities that we might nevernon-Indigenous, they taught me a lot. My be changed for the better. I spent mosthave had, she says. I played golf; I rodemother taught me the star constellations, of my life trying to find out who I was,horses. I sailed the Atlantic Ocean on aand while theyre not exactly the same as where I came from, why I was this colourfreighter; I think thats where I first learnedthe Native teachingsdifferent nations, and my adopted, non-Indigenous parentsto really respect water. different teachingsit all comes from were a different colour. I always wanted tothe heart. know where I came from. Its been a longWhabagoons father, a harbour master, journey, walking in two worlds, she says. contributed to her respect for water fromWhen Whabagoon came to Toronto, she an early age. She says he taught me a lotsays she found other teachers at NCCT: about water, right down to building three A LONG JOURNEY man-made canals on the property. FromIve come full circle with walking in As a child, Whabagoon and her sisterher mother, Whabagoon learned aboutthese two worlds, with my parents non-were relocated from their home in north- sustainability through slow, meaningfulIndigenous teaching and walking in my western Ontario, and eventually adoptedtasks like how to garden, and make theIndigenous teaching, and thats who I together by a family in Gananoque, nearjams and the jellies and marmalade.really am.The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship CentresTThhee O Onntario Ftario Federederaation of Ition of Indigenous Fndigenous Friendship Criendship CenentrtresesThe Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centresstrives to improve the quality of lifefor urban Indigenous strivives tes to impro improovve the qualite the quality of lify of lifefefor uror urban Iban Indigenous ndigenous strstrives to improve the quality of lifefor urban Indigenous people by providing innovative research, policy, training people bpeople by pry prooviding innoviding innovvaativtive re researesearch, policch, policyy, tr, training aining people by providing innovative research, policy, training and community development to 29 Friendship Centres and c ommunity devy developmenelopment tt to 29 Fo 29 Friendship Criendship Cenentrtres es and communitand community development to 29 Friendship Centres across Ontario.acr oss Ontartarioio. .across Onacross Ontario.Join the movementJoin the movvemenementtJoin the moJoin the movementScan the QR code to SScan the QR ccan the QR code tode to o Scan the QR code to acess our careers pageacess our caracess our careers pageeers pageacess our careers pageor visit oforgareersor visit ofofororggarareerseersor visit or visit oforgareersOntario Native Womens Association37'