The Indigenous garden at Kelowna campus
新加坡六合彩官方网站 College's Kelowna campus is home to a traditional garden established in 2017 to celebrate and recognize the rich history and knowledge of the Indigenous people of the region.
The name na'蕯k'史ulam蓹n generally translates to "the things that we do." This reflects things that Indigenous people do with plants and the land, including maintenance of the land; selection and use of plants for food, technology, medicines and for ceremonial purposes; and the sharing of this knowledge with those who walk the paths of this garden or access the garden website.
Situated just north of the Centre for Learning building, the garden is located in a climatically appropriate, visible and accessible area of the campus. The garden is approximately 6,000 square feet and contains over 50 different types of plants that are used and of significance to the region's First Nations. Garden design and plant selection was based on necessary research and advice from Westbank First Nation and other appropriate groups such as the Central 新加坡六合彩官方网站 Naturalists' Club. The garden is a teaching and learning site for students, campus, Indigenous community and public, and serves as a model for other similar gardens in the community.
Significance
First Nations people were ecologists before the term was ever coined. Over time they acquired an intimate knowledge of nature, knowing exactly where in its natural habitat to find a particular plant to meet a specific need. The project pays tribute to this relationship between the First Nations and the plant world in a traditional garden.
The vision for this garden is to create a learning and teaching space on the campus where First Nations people can share their historical knowledge and uses of local plants. One of the garden's founding principles is to preserve local knowledge of the uses and value of the region's plants, in order to ensure current and future generations will understand the past and can transfer that knowledge and appreciation into the future.
Plant varietals
The College and Westbank First Nation chose plants for the na'蕯k'史ulam蓹n garden that are local to the region and of significance to its indigenous community. The two "plant chiefs" of the Westbank First Nation can be found in the garden:
- sp鈥榠茮虛蓹m Chief bitterroot: the chief for things under the ground.
- s铆ya蕯 Chief Saskatoon Berry: the chief for things above the ground.
The other plants selected were chosen for their important uses. In addition, plants were strategically selected that would provide year-round garden interest and are drought-resistant.
Some of the varietals include:
- Grasses: styi蕯 (blue bunch wheatgrass), sxs铆st鈥榠ya蕯 (sweetgrass)
- Shrubs: 峁晆kwi蕯i涩p (wolf willow), mets鈥榤ets鈥樏斏琾 (ocean spray), sx虒 史smi涩p (Soopalallie, aka bearberry or buffalo berry), s铆ya蕯 (Saskatoon), cq鈥樖穉s鈥榪鈥榣stn (big sagebrush), tq虂史q虂史yqw谩蕰媒s (black current), stkcx史i涩p (red osier dogwood), k史鈥榣铆tk鈥榠蕯涩p (red-stemmed ceanothus), t岣縯m鈥榥媒蕯ip (snowberry), tm鈥榯m鈥榥媒蕯i涩p (snowbrush), sts蓹rsi涩mix (Oregan grape), plplqni涩mix (thimbleberry), sk史k史暮k史铆s铆涩m暮x (falsebox).
- Perennials: sm煤k史a蕯xn (arrow-leaved balsamroot), sp鈥榠茮虛 蓹m (bitterroot), mitl鈥榤n (brown-eyed Susan), s蓹w鈥榥umta蕯x (golden aster), sk史蓹lsi涩m蓹lx (kinnickinnick), x虒el铆wa (nodding onion), a蕯p鈥樕檔wix史tn (creamy parsnip-flowered buckwheat), ts蓹mts蓹m涩k虛铆x史 (pearly everlasting), sx史ina蕯 (prickly pear cactus), yititemn铆涩p (round-leaved alumroot, aka Cora bells), sknirm蓹n (sagebrush buttercup), nts谩stsestsn (showy aster), nt虂t虂qt虂qik艅xn (shrubby penstemon), t谩q史a蕯 (sticky geranium), k史蓹tsk史蓹tswix史ups (common white yarrow, aka goatsbeard), k鈥榠x谩n (false Solomon's seal), sp鈥榠ts鈥榥 (hemp dogbane), ky鈥榠r鈥榶鈥榠r鈥榤n鈥榯s煤t (orange honeysuckle), sm蓹tsn谩le岣笔 (desert parsley, aka wild carrot grown from seed), tq鈥榠mtq鈥榤 (wild strawberry), k史ilk史铆l (Indian paint brush), sk史nk史铆n鈥榤 (Indian potato), x虒 史ux虒 ti涩p (Indian celery), sxs铆stya蕯 (pink pussytoes), sma艅x史 (Indian tobacco).
Download the Plant Guide to learn about the historical significance of many plants growing in na'蕯k'史ulam蓹n garden.
Story poles
On July 13, 2017, two story poles featuring ancestral and original pictograph symbols by artist Les Louis of the Lower Similkameen Band were installed in the na'蕯k'史ulam蓹n garden. The story poles depict plants, animals and other imagery significant to the Indigenous peoples of the region.
Sponsors, partners and contributors
The na'蕯k'史ulam蓹n garden is pleased to recognize the following garden sponsors for direct and in-kind support to establish the garden:
Thank you to the following garden partners who worked with 新加坡六合彩官方网站 College to create the na'蕯k'史ulam蓹n garden:
- David Gill, Ntityix Resources
- 新加坡六合彩官方网站 College Trades Department
- 新加坡六合彩官方网站 College Civil Engineering Technology Department
- 新加坡六合彩官方网站 College Student Sustainability Club
新加坡六合彩官方网站 College also recognizes the work of Garden Task Force individuals instrumental in establishing the garden: Beryl Amaron, Grouse Barnes, Pamela Barnes, Jordan Coble, Rick Gee, Anthony Isaac, Graham Kershaw, Angie March, Heather Schneider, Rob St. Onge and Elana Wester. Thanks also goes to the many volunteers who harvested local plant species, planted the beds, watered the garden and maintain it on an ongoing basis.
Indigenous Services
As a part of 新加坡六合彩官方网站 College's commitment to enhancing the participation of Indigenous learners, the College provides Indigenous support services at each of the four campuses.
Our goal is to provide culturally relevant support including:
- Visiting Elders
- Cultural and academic workshops
- Indigenous peer mentors
- Indigenous Student Centres
- Indigenous awards, scholarships and bursary information
- Assistance with band funding applications
- Providing personalized daily supports
- Computer access
Indigenization at OC
新加坡六合彩官方网站 College leadership and broader College community are committed to working with, and learning from, the Indigenous community.
新加坡六合彩官方网站 College created the Indigenization Task Force to gather input on the direction towards our Indigenization planning and activities. The task force consists of faculty and staff from various departments and all campuses.