Our Story
About A Journey
Begins…
Elder Christopher Stock has been sharing his knowledge of Indigenous culture, history and languages for over 30 years.
Christopher Stock is a fifth-generation member of the Wahta Mohawk Territory near Bala, Ontario. For more than 30 years, he has shared Indigenous history, language, traditions, and worldview with students and community members. His teachings are rooted in lived experience, cultural knowledge, and a lifelong commitment to education.
The Beginning
Born Out of Education…
A Journey Begins… was born out of education, with the intention to bring the Indigenous components of the Ontario elementary curriculum to life. Christopher travelled to various schools and school boards, providing students with the experience of a traditional Iroquoian Cultural Social Gathering.
Now he aspires to bring his message to the larger community, bringing his immersive workshops to people of all ages to share the traditions of his people.
Christopher’s unique interactive Indigenous cultural experiences promote awareness and understanding of Indigenous history, language and worldview, thereby bringing about a greater connection towards active and sustaining Truth and Reconciliation.
What Guides Us
Mission, Vision & Values
Our Mission
To promote awareness and understanding of Indigenous Culture, History, Language, Truth and Reconciliation.
Our Vision
By increasing awareness and understanding of Indigenous, Culture, History and Language, the process of healing from all of the experiences and atrocities wrought by Colonialism will expand beyond Hurt, Pain, Anger and Frustration. A Journey Begins … allows for bridge building to take place, to re-establish and strengthen relationships in order to bring about Active, Meaningful and Sustaining Truth and Reconciliation.
Our Values
Our values are based upon the Original Instructions given to us by the Creator: Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen, The Thanksgiving Address. He gave us everything we need to sustain our lives on this Earth as a gift. As long as we take care of it, it will be here to take care of us. The Creator intended life to be simple. We were meant to travel across this Earth to Admire all of his Creation, taking only what we need, and replacing what we take, until it is our time to return home to SkyWorld. All that HE asked for in return, was for us to give greetings of Love, Honour, Respect, Thanks and Gratitude each and every day. We need to return to His original instructions, thereby creating a Sustainable, Harmonious, Prosperous Society, Living in Peace and Harmony with Nature and each other on this Planet that we call home: Mother Earth.
Christopher
Stock
Christopher’s ancestors relocated from Kanehsatà:ke – Oka, Quebec to Muskoka, Ontario, Canada in 1881. As a fifth-generation member of Wáhta Mohawks, he is a graduate of the Mohawk Immersion Adult Language Program at Wáhta Mohawk Territory, located near the town of Bala in the Muskoka Lakes Township.
During his high school years, Christopher was among the contributors to the creation of the first Native Studies course. He began his teaching career with the Wáhta Mohawks’ Kinderkids Program, a unique outdoor education program for JK/SK students, which allowed him to develop his distinctive teaching style.
Christopher spent many years as a Second Language Teacher for Mohawk in grades 4-8 at Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. He has also participated in many presentations, performances and special events, including playing guitar and performing in Mohawk alongside his brother Jonathon as “THE WÁHTA BOYS,” participating in National Aboriginal Language Day and National Aboriginal Day celebrations, and performing at various schools and youth clubs.
In 2018, Christopher received a diagnosis of Aggressive Stage 4 Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He underwent six chemotherapy treatments from August 28, 2018, to December 18, 2018, resulting in a confirmed non-active cancer status by January 18, 2019. However, he still battles the after-effects of cancer and its treatment, such as severe neuropathy (permanent nerve damage) in both legs.
All of these unique experiences, coupled with Christopher’s life-changing journey through cancer, have highlighted what truly matters in life: time. Christopher’s Interactive Indigenous Cultural Experiences offer an introduction to North America’s Indigenous People and their culture, creating a welcoming, inviting, engaging, positive experience, and an opportunity to build a bridge towards active and sustaining Truth and Reconciliation.
Press
In the News
2023
Muskoka Discovery Centre — MISKO-AKI Exhibit
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North Spring 2023
Cayman Marshall Spring 2023
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December 2022
TLDSB Director’s Recognition Award
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North Spring 2022
Cayman Marshall Spring 2022
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North Fall 2023
Cayman Marshall Fall 2023
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June 2023
TLDSB Student Powwow
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What Educators & Community Leaders Say
“It is with great pleasure that I can support Chris in his endeavors to expand and replicate the programming that he provided to students at Macaulay Public School. As an Elder in Residence, Chris was able to infuse Indigenous Education into the daily life of our students and staff.”David Crawford View original letter →
“Extraordinary contributions by staff members, students, school volunteers, or community members are recognized each Board meeting by the Director of Education. Elder Stock shares with the students the Thanksgiving Address, teachings of the wampum, social dancing and songs, and of life as Haudenosaunee People. He is a strong advocate for Indigenous Education and has dedicated his life to helping all see the value and importance of teaching Indigenous ways of knowing and being.”Superintendent Jennifer Johnston (nominator) View original letter →
“Christopher shares his knowledge with staff and students in a number of our elementary and secondary schools. He is able to combine Ontario curriculum with Mohawk teachings in a truly integrated way that engages students and inspires them to be agents of change who genuinely work towards a true vision of reconciliation.”Holly Groome
“This past summer, I had the distinct pleasure of working with Christopher Stock to co-create and deliver a program for students who identify as Indigenous within the Trillium Lakelands District School Board. Christopher's dedication to advising the program's cultural component and delivering meaningful cultural teachings was an incredible asset.”Rachel Franks, OCT, B.Ed. View original letter →
“On behalf of the staff and students of Prince of Wales School we wish to thank you for your excellent series of presentations yesterday and today. Through his engaging mixture of stories, songs, dances, demonstrations, and discussion you helped all of us to begin to understand and appreciate Iroquoian (in particular, Mohawk) society and culture.”Pamela Reinholdt
“On behalf of Town Council and the residents of Bracebridge, please accept our sincere thanks for your participation in hosting the Gol, Norway Youth Friendship Delegation while they were visiting Bracebridge and Muskoka. The Youth delegation's visit was a very successful event.”Grayson Smith View original letter →
“I have known Christopher since he was a child and I have no difficulty whatsoever in my comfort level that Christopher represents the authentic knowledge of the Haudenosaunee people, and that he will work well with children in any school.”Chief Philip Franks
“Now your website makes me happy — to see your skillful ways being carried to a wider audience of others whose lives can be enriched, to see your innate determination as a teacher being fulfilled through this unique journey of your own pathway, to see yet another way for Truth to be shared with those now ready to learn.”Dr. J. Patrick Boyer, Q.C. View original letter →
Certifications & Awards
- Graduate of Queen’s University’s ATEP Program
- Ontario College of Teachers, Primary/Junior Certification.
- Graduate of Wáhta Mohawks – Mohawk Immersion Adult Language Program.
- TLDSB Director’s Recognition Award, December 2022
Select Performances & Events
- Playing guitar and performing in the Mohawk Language alongside with his brother Jonathon as “THE WÁHTA BOYS.”
- Private schools, public schools and youth clubs
- Girl Guides of Canada / Scout Canada Jamborees.
- National Aboriginal Language Day Celebrations
- National Aboriginal Day Celebrations
- New Horizons Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Centre
- Bala Cranberry Festival Opening Day Ceremonies, Oct 1998
- Native Women’s Centre Toronto, 2006
- McMaster University World Religion Course, 2006
- Town of Bracebridge hosting Gol Norway Youth Friendship Delegation visit, 2013
- International Exchange Students from Japan, 2013
- Town of Bracebridge 150th Agricultural Fall Fair Celebration, 2017
- Indigenous Performer May 2022
- Rosseau Lake College Powwow, June 2022
- Home Depot, Huntsville, June 2022
- Delta Airlines, August 2022
- TLDSB Director’s Recognition Award, 2022
- District of Muskoka, Pedagogy of Care Conference, November 2022, March 2023
- Local ETFO Workshop, April 2023
- Presenter & Elder in Residence at TLDSB’s Trillium Lakelands Arts Camp, May 2023
Truth and Reconciliation Education for Schools
A Journey Begins is dedicated to providing meaningful Truth and reconciliation education for schools and communities through immersive Indigenous cultural experiences. Led by Elder Christopher Stock, the organization shares Indigenous history, language, traditions, and teachings to promote understanding, respect, and meaningful connections among people of all ages.