How to Use
This guide has been built to support the creation of School Gardens in School District 57.
The Lheidli people did not traditionally have gardens in the sense that we do now. The plants here are ones traditionally harvested or foraged for in the keyoh. Though it was not a traditional practice these school gardens are a way of bringing some of this learning to the school grounds, while the foraging kits are a way of understanding the traditional practice out on the keyoh.
The process for this is supported by the Dakelh Holistic Lifelong Learning Model (linked below).
It is suggested you read or listen to Robin Wall Kimmerer's essay linked below to understand how traditional Indigenous wisdom, ecological and economic systems entwined and how harvesting and foraging fit into Indigenous worldviews prior to embarking on this project.
- The ServiceberryAs Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and ecological systems to reimagine currencies of exchange?
- Dakelh Holistic Learning Model
Dakelh Ways of Knowing and Enduring
Understandings.
Information from SD57 Maintenance
Other Resources
- Food Garden Management PlanFrom Think and Eat Green @ School
A set of resources for planning out your school garden including food needs, solar analysis and plans for upkeep and use.
- Information on Vancouver School Board Educational GardensAlmost all VSB schools currently have an educational garden. These are wonderful outdoor learning spaces that can touch on all subjects of the curriculum.
- School Year Gardens: A Toolkit for High Schools to Grow Food from September to JuneFrom Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project
- Region of Waterloo School Food Garden Startup GuideSchool food gardens provide a means of enhancing academic success as well as a holistic way to cultivate the development of the whole student using the integrated Healthy Schools Framework
- Home Gardening Guide - Metis Nation of BC - Spring 2022Gardening and being self-sufficient in food production is a part of miyopimatisiwin, the Métis way of life. The hope is to continue building a strong, self-sufficient community of gardeners throughout the province– to continue building Métis food sovereignty.
Local Plants to Include
Sekani-lhowzi chehehe (Yarrow / 'achillée)
Identifying Yarrow: Yarrow is a perennial herb with finely divided, feathery looking leaves. They are clustered on a long straight stalk. The whole plant is wonderfully aromatic and reminiscent of chamomile and pinon pine. It tends to form deep-green soft mats with strong interconnected roots. Flowers can reach a foot high. Millefolia means thousand leaves.
Medicine: dried yarrow flower, leaves used in tea to keep away flies and mosquitoes. Fresh leaves rubbed together and rubbed on skin as bug repellent. The plant was boiled to purify an area where sick people lay. It was also drunk as a tea to induce sweating during flu-like symptoms, to purify the blood, and to ease bloody diarrhea. The Teton Dakota People call yarrow “medicine for the wounded.” “Warrior plant” is another common name among native communities across the United States and Canada.
Mullein / molène
The mullein plant has been around for thousands of years. The plant is found in many parts of the world, including the United States, and has more than 200 species.
Traditional uses: leaves good for lung health-use in teas and can be smoked
Mint / menthe
Traditional uses: use mint tea for bad breath or toothache, to cure hiccups, stomach aches, flavor food, and to bait fox or lynx. Drank in a tea, very refreshing-used fresh or dried (sometimes smoked)
Wild Rose / Prickly Rose / Rosa acicularis / Rosier Arctique
Traditional uses: reduce high cholesterol levels, astringent for skin and sore eyes, petals were eaten, and soothes skin issues, buds high in vitamin c.
NOTE: do not eat inner part of hip (fibre glass)
Petals: good heart tonic
Plantains / Fleawort
Traditional: followed new comers-but was use by Indigenous to improve digestion, and promote wound healing.
Duniht’an / Sekani-Injini (Bearberry / busserole)
Traditional uses: mostly the leaves were dried and used as tobacco, also leaves were used in teas for the kidneys and bladder infections (too much acid in urine). Used for lung conditions and bronchitis - the leaves were used as tobacco.
Canadian Golden Rod
Traditional Use: Great for kidneys and bladder --- cleanses dense organs – natural anti-histamine
Pipsissewa (Wintergreen / gaulthérie)
Traditional uses: boiled and drank for stabbing chest pains and for clearing up chest phlegm and fever. It also possesses astringent and antiseptic qualities, serving the urinary system where there is urinary tract infection or kidney inflammation.
Additional DLC Kits to Support Learning
Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Gardens
Month: Dugoosnun (May); Season: ’Olulh (Spring)
Suitability: Grade K, 1, 2, 3 Science, Language Arts, Indigenous Studies.
Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Local Foods
Month: Dugoosnun (May); Season: ’Olulh (Spring)
Suitability: Grade K, 1, 2, 3 Science, Language Arts, Indigenous Studies
Intermediate Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Traditional Food Projects
Month: Nadlehyaz (September); Season: Dak’et (Fall)
Suitability: Grade 6, 7 Indigenous Education, Science, Social Studies, Geography, Language Arts, History, Mathematics.
Intermediate Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Harvesting Birch Bark
Month: Dulats'eknun (April); Season: ’Olulh (Spring)
Suitability: Grade 4, 5 Science, Geography, Language Arts, History, Mathematics, Indigenous Studies.
Intermediate Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Planting and Harvesting Preparation
Month: Dugoosnun (May); Season: ’Olulh (Spring)
Suitability: Grade 6, 7 Indigenous Education, Science, Social Studies, Geography, Language Arts, History, Mathematics.
Intermediate Dakelh (Carrier) Natural Calendar: Local Conservation
Month: Daingnun (June); Season: Shen (Summer)
Suitability: Grade 4, 5 Science, Geography, Language Arts, History, Mathematics, Indigenous Studies.
My Prince George Garden: Grade K-1
Suitability: Grade K, 1 Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies, Indigenous Studies.
My Prince George Garden: Grade 1-2
Suitability: Grade 1, 2 Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies, Indigenous Studies.
My Prince George Garden: Grade 2-4 (Photo 1 of 2)
Suitability: Grade 2, 3, 4 Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Indigenous Studies.
My Prince George Garden: Grade 2-4 (Photo 2 of 2)
Suitability: Grade 2, 3, 4 Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Indigenous Studies.
My Prince George Garden: Grade 3-4
Suitability: Grade 3, 4 Language Arts, Science, Math, Social Studies, Indigenous Studies.
Contacts
Contact Points:
Questions around Indigenous Gardens - Vice-Principal of Culture and Language - Indigenous Education
Questions around grounds, feedback on plans and preparation for grants - Supervisor of Grounds & Fleet Vehicles/Equipment - Facility Services
For current holders of these roles please see the Staff Telephone Directory