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School Garden Guide: Foraging

This is a resource for teachers to support school gardens, particularly those with a focus on plants found in Lheidli territory

Respectful Foraging

Land-Based Etiquette, Protocol and Values  

for Harvesting and Foraging 

Developed by SD57 Indigenous Education 
in consultation with local Elders and Knowledge Holders  

   

  • We are part of our environment; What we do to the environment, we do to ourselves. Take care of the land and the waters and they will take care of you.  

  • Our food is our medicine and Water is life.   

  • Everything is connected. Our connection to the land is healing.  

  • Give thanks to Dakelh Nekeyoh / Tse’khene Lands / The Creator for what it provides by giving an offering before any type of harvest. This offering may be personal (hair, saliva, song, prayer, etc.) or material (tobacco, sage, seed etc.).  

  • Always have good thoughts when harvesting and processing; do not harvest or process with negative thoughts.  

  • Pay attention; learn to harvest properly and respectfully to ensure everyone’s safety and the longevity of Dakelh Nekeyoh / Tse’khene Lands and the ecosystem.  

  • Be respectful and only take what you need, leaving the rest for the future.  

  • The land is our classroom; it is holistic and filled with knowledge in all curricular areas.   

 
 
Snachailya/Musi to the SD57 Indigenous Elders Advisory Committee, 
Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and Tse’khene First Nation 
for their guidance with developing this document.  

Additional Kits to Support Learning

Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Walking Softly in the Forest Kit Contents

Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Walking Softly in the Forest

Month: Daingnun (June); Season: Shen (Summer)

Suitability: Grade K, 1, 2, 3 Science, Geography, Language Arts, History, Indigenous Studies.

Intermediate Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Traditional Methods of Harvesting Kit Contents

Intermediate Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Traditional Methods of Harvesting

Month: Nadlehyaz (September); Season: Dak’et (Fall)

Suitability: Grade 4, 5 Science, Geography, Language Arts, History, Mathematics, Indigenous Studies.

Intermediate Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Living on the Land and Walking Softly Kit Contents

Intermediate Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Living on the Land and Walking Softly

Month: Daingnun (June); Season: Shen (Summer)

Suitability: Grade 6, 7 Indigenous Education, Science, Social Studies, Geography, Language Arts, History, Mathematics.

How to Use

This kit is rooted in the Dakelh Holistic Lifelong Learning Model. It was designed to support the collaboration of teachers, students, Indigenous Education Worker and community to go out on the land and experience traditional Lheidli harvesting and foraging practices. It was not designed for a teacher to do without the assistance of an IEW or other knowledge keeper, unless that teacher is themselves a knowledge keeper of these traditional practices. There is an additional field trip kit with supplies to take out on the land with your class. PLEASE CALL THE DLC TO BOOK THE KIT TO ARRIVE ON THE LAST WEEK OF BORROWING THE FORAGING KIT

Additional Supplies Needed:

  • School First Aid Kit
  • Felt pens
  • Paper
  • Drum + Drummer (IEW)

NOTE: Do not return the baggies. They will be resupplied at the DLC.

Book the Elementary Kit - Suitability: Grade K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Science, Social Studies, Indigenous studies, Physical Education, Core Competencies.

Book the Secondary Kit - Suitability: Grade 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Science, Social Studies, Indigenous studies, Physical Education, Core Competencies.

Good Plants for Foraging

Plant guide in Dakelh, English and French is included in each student backpack.

  • Balsam bark 
  • Plantain 
  • Yarrow 
  • Labrador tea 
  • Wild rose 
  • Fireweed 
  • Kinikinik (bear berry) 
  • Devil's club 
  • Juniper 
  • Red willow 
  • Red clover 
  • Soapberry 
  • Mint 
  • Fern 
  • Dandelion 

Contacts