As construction continues on the Kenhtè:ke Language and Cultural Centre in Tyendinaga, Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na (TTO) has announced a new land restoration initiative supported by a $486,600 Grow grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
TTO has provided Mohawk language programs for over two decades. They expect the new centre to house their programming to open in fall 2025.
The grant will support the restoration of surrounding wildlife over the next three years. The work will be done in collaboration with Wintergreen Studios, an environmental centre that specializes in restoring and preserving natural ecosystems.
“The state of the land now is, I would say, damaged by human use and even abuse…” said Dr. Rena Upitis, Director of Wintergreen Studios. “…Our goal is to ensure that there’s an invisible boundary between the existing ecology and what we help with in terms of restoration so that the whole thing becomes seamless.”
The work will be guided by Indigenous ecological knowledge and integrated into future educational programming at the centre.
