Indigenous Partnerships
Waterway signage
In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, the City of Richmond Hill unveiled new waterway signs in the City’s parks on September 29, 2025 to identify the Don, Rouge and Humber Rivers in Ojibway.
The City worked with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), one of Richmond Hill’s Treaty Partners, who provided the Ojibway translations of the three waterways. The signs feature artwork of three common fish species which inhabit these waterways, including the Redside Dace, Bluntnose Minnow and the Mottled Sculpin. The artwork was created by Indigenous artist Tracey Anthony.
| Name of Park | Name of Waterway | Ojibway and English Sign |
|---|---|---|
| Lennox Park |
German Mills Creek, |
WONSCOTONACH (Won-sco-ton-ach) |
| Rouge River |
CHI SIPPI (Chee- Sippy) |
|
| East Humber Trail | Humber River |
COBECHENONK (Co-bec-he-nonk) |
| About the artist - Tracey Anthony |
|
Tracey is the son of a Mississauga (Anishinaabe) mother from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations reserve and a Delaware (Lenni Lenape) father from the Six Nations reserve in Ontario, Canada. Tracey’s artworks express Anishinaabe, Lenni-Lenape, and Haudenosaunee influences. Tracey’s original works are showcased in the Royal Ontario Museum, The Collection of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and The Woodland Cultural Centre. His artworks are also featured in Vision Artworks, which is located in the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation’s commercial plaza, near Hagersville, Ontario, Canada on Highway 6. In addition, Tracey also has an artist studio at his home on the Six Nations reserve. |
Medicine gardens (Gitigaan mashkiki*)
The City and Miskwaadesi Studio have partnered to create a network of Indigenous medicine gardens that will serve as living classrooms, cultural gathering spaces and help increase local access to Indigenous medicines.
The gardens are planted with a combination of sweet grass (Wiingashk*) and prairie sage (Mashkodewashk*), which are known for their cleansing power, spiritual energy and also act as pollinators. In many Indigenous cultures, sage is used to smudge during ceremonies to cleanse a space. Sweet grass is used for ceremonial purposes, craft work and can also be used as a tea.
The harvest from these gardens will be respectfully gathered and shared with the community by Miskwaadesi Studio, helping to make Indigenous medicine more accessible locally.
*Anishinaabemowin translations
Programs, workshops and events
The gardens are maintained by the City and programmed by Miskwaadesi Studio. You can learn more about upcoming workshops, events and how you can get involved by visiting their website at the link below.
Join a workshop, attend an event or volunteer
Medicine garden locations
- Central Library (canoe garden on the east side of the building)
- Oak Ridges Community Centre (canoe garden behind the building at the south end)
- Phyllis Rawlinson Park (outside Robert Holland Interpretive Centre)
- Richmond Green Park (in the Children’s Garden)
- Hill House Hospice