"When the Gathering Place was built at Selkirk College we knew we had much to learn and many friendships to build, so we just started," says Angus Graeme, President, Selkirk College. The new building for Aboriginal learners at Selkirk College has become a place where friendships can continue to be made and kept. The beds in the surrounding Spirit Garden are waiting.

In Fall, 2012 Selkirk will begin a series of garden parties (to run semi annually over years) where native plants with medicinal and food value are planted, cared for, harvested and used. Selkirk College will invite Traditional Knowledge Keepers and other guests from its surrounding communities and partner nations, as advisors and teachers. Aboriginal community groups, students at the College and staff will be invited to join in and learn.

Canada Research Chair Lorna Williams says post-secondary staff tend to leave "little room ... for the Indigenous world as articulated by the Indigenous people. The challenge ...is to create spaces within these foreign and alienating environments that provide an opening to the Indigenous world". Selkirk's Gathering Place and spirit garden is an opening for the indigenous world.

This project is an opportunity for non-Aboriginal people to know that, as Williams says, "sometimes we don't know", and to incorporate more indigenous ways of teaching in to Selkirk College curriculum for the benefit of all students!

Problem

Recent studies, including a report from the Ottawa-based Centre for the Study of Living Standards, suggest that, if current lower educational trends continue for aboriginal people "Canada could lose billions of dollars in productivity. The centre estimates that more than $170-billion could be added to Canada's economy by 2026 if natives achieved the same education levels as other Canadians" (Globe and Mail, Why aboriginal education is our business, June 21,2011) For this to happen, post-secondary institutions need to be more relevant, inviting and supportive of Aboriginal Learners. Aboriginal Author and University of Victoria Indigenous Governance Faculty Taiaiake Alfred emphasizes the responsibility of students for helping to shape a better future. "It's not a time when someone can sit back and be complacent or think that they don't matter. It's absolutely up to every individual because we're in that kind of historical moment" (The Free Library http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Taiaiake+Alfred%3A+shaping+a+better+future+is+the+only+option.-a0144298013). Taiaiake recognizes that young people have difficult decisions to make, but he encourages them to get an education and to stay healthy.

Solution

A building is only a shelter. There has to be a means for relationships to start, be nourished and tended. What better place then a healing garden to grow relationships. Plants in indigenous worlds have always been a source of healing and knowledge. By bringing together Aboriginal community reps with non-Aboriginal staff and students at Selkirk to create, maintain and harvest a garden of native plants, these relationships can be built.

Exemple

Spirit Garden Parties Fall, 2012 - Root Harvest and Plant Garden Party Traditional Knowledge Keepers from the Ktunaxa, Colville Federated Tribes, and Okanagan Nation will be invited as guests to show party attenders how to harvest, prepare and cook fall ripening plants, especially roots. Some of these roots will be the first plants in the Gathering Place plant beds. Stories, photos and illustrations will be recorded in a the Gathering Place gardening book, an oversized book placed in the elders room and meant for recording and sharing knowledge. Spring, 2013 - Renewal and Cleansing Garden Party Traditional Knowledge Keepers from the Ktunaxa, Colville Federated Tribes, and Okanagan Nation will be invited as guests to show party attenders how to harvest, prepare and cook spring plants, especially tonics for cleansing. Some of these plants will be placed in the beds. Stories, photos and illustrations will be recorded in a the Gathering Place gardening book, an oversized book placed in the elders room and meant for recording and sharing knowledge. Summer Garden Party, 2013 - Preserving for the Winter Fall, 2013 - Spirit Garden Official Opening

Marché

Since this garden will concentrate on plants with medicinal and food value there are likely to be some value-added products, such as preserves, ointments, tonics, that will be developed by residents. A partnership with local co-ops (Kootenay Food Co-op and Health Co-op with all profits going to Aboriginal support not-for-profits) would be appropriae,. The Kootenay School of the Arts, studying students, musicians and other will find the garden inspirational!