ISES Core Disciplines
Nature Discovery & Awareness Building
Custodians of the Land
Embrace Earth Mother, feel the Spirit (15 hrs)
ISES students care for two organic vegetable gardens and a Medicine Wheel
garden - a sacred area where a variety of medicinal plants for human and
animal use are grown. Students learn and discuss the holistic benefits of
organic foods and the healing powers of natural remedies. Participants are
also taught a variety of indigenous wild edible plants and learn basic homeopathy
as it applies to animal husbandry.
The James Bay / Eeyou Istchee Experience
12-day wilderness canoe tripping adventure
For over 12 days students live the life of modern day voyageurs by exploring
the James Bay region of north-western Québec. After a 1000 km drive
due north to this vast, wilderness expanse students paddle to the original
Nemaska Cree (Indian) village on the shores of Lake Nemaska for the annual
reunion where eating traditional foods and participating in reunion activities
highlight the week. Participants then continue north to the Cree Nation community
of Chisasibi on the shores of James Bay and embark on another canoe trip as
they explore this wilderness paradise seeking adventure, marine life, fossils
and extraordinary memories.
Me, My Self, My Earth
Coureur de bois, a foot in the past (20 hrs)
Students experience being a modern-day coureur de bois and lay their own tracks by snow shoeing or cross country skiing amidst snow-ladened forests, frozen marshes and rolling hills. Ultimately students discover the serenity of a Canadian winter wonderland while reconnecting with Nature as She lies in dormancy.
