What does it mean to fish sustainably and with care? This question guided Kawartha Land Trust’s (KLT) Passport to Nature event at our Hammer Family Nature Preserve in Lakehurst at the end of June. Led by Gary Pritchard, participants were invited to learn the essentials of fishing through the lens of All My Relations — an Indigenous principle emphasizing respect, responsibility, and reciprocity with all living things.
Gary is a Conservation Ecologist and Indigenous Engagement Specialist from Curve Lake First Nation, Founder of 4 Directions Conservation Consulting Services and a KLT Trustee. He began the event with an offering of tobacco, opening our communication and connectedness with the land and water and reminding all participants that when we take from the land, we must also give back. He also offered a sage smudge to participants, encouraging them to clear their eyes, ears, mouths, hearts, and feet, so that we could go into the day gently and with openness.
This hands-on, beginner-friendly fishing event brought together families, KLT staff, and volunteers for a day of shoreline fishing, outdoor learning, and a shared meal. More than just a learn-to-fish lesson, it was a chance to engage deeply with the land, the water, and the life it supports. Attendees fished for four hours with a quick break for a BBQ lunch and a chance to chat with other participants. Sharing a meal while hearing about their experiences fishing with their families, or how excited they were to catch fish on that day, was something everyone shared joy in.
Throughout the day, attendees learned to fish respectfully and responsibly, while deepening their understanding of how individual actions are directly connected to the environment and ecosystems. Fishing rods were equipped with bobbers, weighted lines, and barbless hooks. Everyone caught at least one fish and many for the very first time! By the end of the event, five species had been caught off of the shoreline: Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, and Rock Bass.
Fishing, a patient pursuit, provides time to observe, think, and reflect. As we cast our lines into the water, we had time to take in the abundant natural beauty of KLT’s Hammer Family Nature Preserve. Loons and Mallards made their appearance along the shoreline, and over 10 species of songbirds could be heard calling in the trees nearby, including Great Crested Flycatchers, Pine Warblers, and Song Sparrows. Milkweed, Elderberry flowers, and Yarrow were tall in the summer sun, feeding butterflies like Monarchs and Swallowtails. Sweetgrass, one of the four sacred medicines in Indigenous culture, also grows on the property.
Gary’s guidance served as a bridge between traditional Indigenous knowledge and settler practices, offering a vision of sustainability rooted in respect, community, and long-term thinking. As he often reminds his students, especially his favorite students — his own children, our choices today impact the next seven generations.
This experiential learning event at the Hammer Family Nature Preserve was more than an introduction to fishing, it was a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness with the natural world. By combining cultural teachings, ecological insight, and community gathering, it showcased a pathway toward conservation that had been successful since time immemorial.
Main photo: Event facilitator Gary Pritchard of 4 Directions Conservation Consulting Services with an event attendee after her first catch of the day — a Largemouth Bass. (Ben Stark, KLT)
