The Don River Awakens.

The Don River Awakens.

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The Don River Awakens was a community-driven initiative that celebrated the restoration of the Don River and the birth of Ookwemin Minising in Toronto’s Port Lands.

Aspirations

    • Ensure co-creation of the project with local residents & indigenous communities.

    • Foster relationships with cultural and community leaders to collaboratively shape the events and the Island’s cultural development.

    • Amplify authentic voices and representation through collaboration with local artists and performers.

    • Foster exploration of Ookwemin Minising’s Biidaasige Park through free, ephemeral public programming.

    • Root the Island’s cultural tone in Indigenous empowerment and community led placemaking.

    • Provide a model for ephemeral cultural activations in Toronto.

    • Identify best practices for placemaking through art, music, and movement.

    • Explore long-term cultural stewardship of Ookwemin’s development process.

  • Placemaking begins with understanding place. The area that houses Ookwemin Minising and the mouth of the Don River have undergone a profound transformation from natural landscapes to Indigenous stewardship, colonization, industrialization, economic prowess, degradation, and now ecological renewal. Today, the island is being restored to its natural landscape, becoming a vibrant space for all Torontonians. Recognizing this journey allows us to celebrate the land’s resilience and create a shared vision for its future.

Initiative Themes

  • Fostering an inclusive and equitable public space requires centering its many diverse communities from past, present, and future. This means amplifying the voices of those who have stewarded it, and inviting the next generation of caretakers to envision and shape its future together. 

  • Art is a powerful medium for storytelling and connection, capable of uniting people across diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. As the island undergoes its renewal, it is poised to become a new cultural landmark for Toronto. The Don River Awakens uses art as a unifying language to celebrate and honor the island’s transformation.

Project at a Glance:

Locations:

St. Matthews Clubhouse, Toronto, ON
Biidaasige Park, Toronto, ON

Dates:

October 19, 20, and 25, 2025

Collaborators:

Red Pepper Spectacle, Lost Rivers, Kayos Jones, Emily Gaudet Dick, Maracatu Mar Aberto, Nithursan Elamuhilan, East End Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Waterfront Toronto, Monumental, and
City of Toronto

Budget:

via grants & sponsorships

$11,500

Scope:

2

community
arts workshops hosted

2

exploration
based programs delivered

1

public art installation commissioned

Engagement:

community members
engaged

250+

5

artists & performance
groups platformed

>80%

new visitors welcomed

6/6

average participant satisfaction rating

38,000

social media engagements