Reseeding our Garden

Medicine takes many forms. Across Indigenous cultures, a shared understanding is that the earth provides all that we need to live and heal.

Plant-based medicine has been used by Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial and remains a vital part of cultural identity. Yet, like many forms of traditional knowledge, these practices have been disrupted and, in some cases, lost due to the lasting impacts of colonization.

Today, Indigenous Peoples are returning to their origins, cultivating their land and their culture to recover what was lost. The North Fraser Métis Association is supporting this significant journey within its own community by creating an Indigenous medicines garden. This garden is a living, breathing representation of Indigenous Peoples’ perseverance and hope in the face of adversity. It offers a place to connect, heal, learn and grown, all key elements to reconciliation. 

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is providing significant support to the North Fraser Métis Association for this multifaceted project. From honorariums for Knowledge Keepers to seeds and soil, the IRF is helping bring every element to life. More than just a community garden, this space will serve as a living repository of Indigenous plant knowledge, an educational space where people can reconnect with their traditions, guided by wisdom and care. It will also promote physical health and foster a deeper sense of unity across the community.

Urbanization, limited access to land and intergenerational trauma has led to cultural disconnect. This is especially true for Indigenous youth who are at greater risk of missing opportunities to learn from Elders and traditional Knowledge Keepers. The IRF recognizes the pressing need for cultural revitalization and knowledge preservation in Indigenous communities and excited to see the impacts of this important initiative.

Archdiocese of Vancouver