“On-the-Land” Learning in the Sugar Bush

On a brisk March day near New Hamburg, Ont., a small group of Hearts Exchanged alumni and participants gathered in the Crow Shield Lodge sugar bush for an “on-the-land” learning experience to deepen their connection with Indigenous people, the land, and one another.

Hearts Exchanged is an eight-month learning and action journey offered by the Christian Reformed Church to help participants wrestle with how our churches can become places of belonging and embrace God’s call to reconciliation with Indigenous neighbors. 

At the on-the-land learning event, participants were led by Métis knowledge keeper Dave Skene, who is also part of Wisahkotewinowak, an urban Indigenous garden collective that seeks to build land-based relationships as they grow and share food with the community. 

Throughout the day, participants engaged in both conversation and practical work.

“Our visit to the Crow Shield Lodge sugar bush with Dave Skene was a chilly day on the land, but with a lot of happy people,” said Adrian Jacobs, senior leader for Indigenous justice and reconciliation with the CRCNA. “Seventeen Hearts Exchanged alumni and current participants from the area enjoyed cutting wood, moving woodpiles, gathering maple sap, giving thanks for the land and trees, and hearing stories of the land.”

Rooted in gratitude, the day began with prayer to God led by Adrian Jacobs and with teaching about the Sugar Moon, a time in many Indigenous cultures that marks renewal and the beginning of the new year. Through stories and shared meals around the fire, participants explored the spiritual significance of the land and how this knowledge can foster meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.

“I really enjoyed connecting with the natural surroundings,” said Maaike Buma from Waterloo (Ont.) CRC, who shared this poetic reflection: 

     So quiet, peaceful . . . 
     watched the dark rain clouds playfully sailing by overhead in the cold, brisk wind . . . 
     heard the crystal-clear singing of the birds . . .
     marvelled at the height of the trees, the distinctive patterns in the bark . . .
     relished the smell of the dirt, the mushrooms, mosses and lichens and the subtle sweet aroma of the sap . . . 
     were enriched by the teachings and enjoyed the fellowship and communal lunch around the fire pit . . .
     felt the presence of the Creator.

The on-the-land gathering was part of an ongoing effort by the CRC’s Indigenous Ministry to help churches build reciprocal relationships with Indigenous neighbors and deepen their understanding of local Indigenous communities. Learning connected to the land encourages participants to walk gently and respectfully as they engage in reconciliation.

Although the day was shaped by the rhythms of nature—cold winds, uncertain sap flow, and muddy paths—the tone was one of joy, reflection, and shared purpose. As participants left the sugar bush, many carried with them not only aching muscles but also a renewed sense of calling to steward creation and seek justice in relationships with Indigenous communities.