Coming together to plant a garden of understanding

By Tanya Lunn-Duggan

So why a garden? This once under utilized space has

    helped grow many ideas and connections over the

    last ten years. We learned humility by building up the

    space with students from St. Peter secondary school

    as we started to give life to what was once bare, it

    supported courage during the pandemic and invited

    families to leave something to grow and it would

    lovingly welcome them when they returned.

    Over time it became overgrown and what almost

    seems metaphoric that an invasive plant was

    crowding out the original plants and changes needed

    to happen. Thus came the idea of the sacred and

    healing inspired garden.

    This tactile and tangible area welcomes everyone, as

    we become rooted in what we know and make space

    for further growth and acceptance.

    A bit of back story: Several years ago our classrooms

    were painted to reflect four elements: air, water, earth and fire.

    This decision was based on wanting to

    enhance nature into our environments and at the

    time was merely a decorative design and no one

    knew the impact it would have. Later we were gifted

    sun catchers depicting the four sacred plants

    associated with the medicine wheel: sweet grass, sage,

    tobacco and cedar.

    Grateful for the gifts, we randomly displayed them in

    each of the classrooms. It wasn’t until deeper in to

    my own learning that the linkage between the plants,

    the elements and the medicine wheel were revealed.

    Respectfully recognizing and learning from the first

    peoples of Canada has been in the forefront of my

    work and my colleagues for many years and we have

    done so by introducing the seven grandfather

    teachings through animal representation,

    incorporating Anishinaabe language and land

    acknowledgments when gathering and visiting the

    forests, and building of our library. The intention is

    always to share age appropriate and authentic

    experiences for the children all the while being

    mindful to avoid tokenism.

    The stories and events that have unfolded in recent

      years became an internal ignition to want to know

      more and do more in the effort of awareness

      and make change. I have spent my entire life with family

      and friends with indigenous and Métis backgrounds

      who couldn’t and wouldn’t share out of presumably

      fear and were systemically oppressed and yet I

      naively never knew. Continuing to connect my

      professional learning and deep rooted interest in

      Indigenous culture allows me to understand a little

      more and share back with the children and the

      program what seemed missing for so many years.

      The infant room represents wind and they planted sweet grass.  Sweet grass is considered sacred and used for making smudge sticks, as well as, for weaving baskets.

      The toddler one room worked hard and used their element of water to create an ideal home for the roots of the cedar trees.  Cedars signify the interrelationship between humans and plants.

      The toddler two room offered the white sage in the garden.  Sage is traditionally used for releasing what is troubling the mind and for removing negative energy.  Their room represents earth and helped prepare the soil by overturning it.

      The preschool room which represents fire planted yarrow,a plant used in the Métis culture, which is a traditional medicine plant for cuts and abrasions, headaches, and more.

      The garden also homes Solomon seal, which is intended to heal skeletal injuries and osier dogwood for digestive concerns.  These plants represent the administrative and nutritional portion of our program.

      When putting this documentation together, I had

      Initially worried that there was too much background

      stories that may seem irrelevant for the work of today,

      but in reflecting on all the previous work it was

      preparation for the garden. Furthermore through the

      research and hands on experiences, I have come to

      realize that the land is a teacher and lends itself to

      emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually

      support me and my work.

      Miigwech!

      We offer the following acknowledgment for the space:

        With deep respect and acknowledgment, this

        gitigaan (garden) is planted on the traditional

        lands of the Anishnibee and the William treaty.

        The value we hold in laying the roots of these

        time honoured plants is to show not only our

        commitment to justice, equity, diversity and

        inclusion, as we strive to support change and also

        our commitment to grow our knowledge. We

        offer a sincere miigwech (thank you) for the

        opportunity to explore, learn and engage in

        the wisdom of the land of the first people of Canada.