The Healing Place • Tsi Tehshakotitsiéntha’ •
Endaji mino-pimaadizin • Lieu de guérison
In an initiative with our partners, The Mohawks of Akwesasne, Algonquin First Nations, South Nation Conservation (SNC), Forests Ontario and Ontario Power Generation, Plenty Canada is part of the creation of The Healing Place. On September 23rd 2020, we held a kickoff planting event with a traditional opening ceremony followed by the planting of over 250 culturally significant native trees, shrubs, and other species. The project partners have committed to continued maintenance and expansion of the site, as well as to the creation of a Healing Place network across the province and country in order to meaningfully engage Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in a restorative process, creating physical places of healing while at the same time cultivating safe, ethical spaces.
The name, "The Healing Place", speaks to its role in the process of reconciliation. It provides a safe place within ethical space for all community members from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous to come and participate in the healing process of reconciliation so that our communities can learn to move forward and to learn to live and work together. The space also represents a healing of the relationships between ourselves and the land. We look forward to continuing to enhance this site with future plantings and sharing it as a place of learning for all.
To explore more about the background, governance, partnerships, and information about The Healing Place, read the report.
The name, "The Healing Place", speaks to its role in the process of reconciliation. It provides a safe place within ethical space for all community members from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous to come and participate in the healing process of reconciliation so that our communities can learn to move forward and to learn to live and work together. The space also represents a healing of the relationships between ourselves and the land. We look forward to continuing to enhance this site with future plantings and sharing it as a place of learning for all.
To explore more about the background, governance, partnerships, and information about The Healing Place, read the report.
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The inaugural Healing Place event, September 23rd 2020.
Three Sisters Garden harvest event, fall 2022. Photo: South Nation Conservation.
The Design
The Healing Place stands on the traditional territories of the Algonquin and Mohawk Nations in Shanly, Ontario. The 89-acre site, located on South Nation Conservation property, is home to several grassland Species at Risk, including the Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, and locally significant Gorgon Checkerspot butterfly. Indigenous knowledge was interwoven into every aspect of The Healing Place, including species selection, site design, and graphic representation. Hundreds of culturally significant trees, shrubs, and other species have been planted according the initial design by Chris Craig based on the medicine wheel and other cultural considerations.
First Nations across Turtle Island have many different teachings and traditions, so this medicine wheel garden demonstrates a few of these traditional teachings, mainly focused on both Algonquin and Mohawk teachings. The basic design represents the circle of life, no beginning, and no end. The 4 pillars of life: mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical connections, and the four Cardinal directions which guide all people are represented in the wheel’s spokes. Each quarter has a specific colour, which may also very from Nation to Nation as well, but for this project, red, white, yellow, and black are used, reflecting the four elements all life depends upon: fire, earth, air, and water. Plant species and their locations were selected intentionally based upon cultural considerations.
The east, where we enter and leave the circle, is also the entrance and exit to the site. Each direction is marked by a culturally significant tree: Red Oak in the north, Sugar Maple in the east, White Cedar in the south, and White Pine in the west. A traditional medicines garden of herbs and berries such as strawberries, raspberries, red currant, white currant, gooseberries, black berries, and semah (traditional tobacco) was planted in the centre of the site. Seven trees were planted in the interior of the wheel to represent the seven Grandfather teachings, and 13 along the exterior of the wheel to represent the Grandmother Teachings including the 13 moons. There is an outside ring of eastern white cedar that over time will totally enclose the site to provide a quite place for people to enjoy the site and to provide a safe place for self healing. The land-based culture of Indigenous people intrinsically incorporates the presence of endangered tree species, such as the Butternut, and keystone tree species, such as the Sugar Maple, that ultimately promote biodiversity.
Since the initial design, new gardens have been added, designed and coordinated by Sarah Craig. The first being a 'Remember the Children' butterfly garden, incorporting plants that are easy for children to harvest and eat such as strawberries, and planted in the form of a butterfly in remembrance of the victims of Residential Schools. In addition, a Three Sisters Garden which incorporates the Three Sisters (corns, beans, and squash) planted as companions in the traditional way, as well as many other food plants which are harvested and shared with the community.
First Nations across Turtle Island have many different teachings and traditions, so this medicine wheel garden demonstrates a few of these traditional teachings, mainly focused on both Algonquin and Mohawk teachings. The basic design represents the circle of life, no beginning, and no end. The 4 pillars of life: mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical connections, and the four Cardinal directions which guide all people are represented in the wheel’s spokes. Each quarter has a specific colour, which may also very from Nation to Nation as well, but for this project, red, white, yellow, and black are used, reflecting the four elements all life depends upon: fire, earth, air, and water. Plant species and their locations were selected intentionally based upon cultural considerations.
The east, where we enter and leave the circle, is also the entrance and exit to the site. Each direction is marked by a culturally significant tree: Red Oak in the north, Sugar Maple in the east, White Cedar in the south, and White Pine in the west. A traditional medicines garden of herbs and berries such as strawberries, raspberries, red currant, white currant, gooseberries, black berries, and semah (traditional tobacco) was planted in the centre of the site. Seven trees were planted in the interior of the wheel to represent the seven Grandfather teachings, and 13 along the exterior of the wheel to represent the Grandmother Teachings including the 13 moons. There is an outside ring of eastern white cedar that over time will totally enclose the site to provide a quite place for people to enjoy the site and to provide a safe place for self healing. The land-based culture of Indigenous people intrinsically incorporates the presence of endangered tree species, such as the Butternut, and keystone tree species, such as the Sugar Maple, that ultimately promote biodiversity.
Since the initial design, new gardens have been added, designed and coordinated by Sarah Craig. The first being a 'Remember the Children' butterfly garden, incorporting plants that are easy for children to harvest and eat such as strawberries, and planted in the form of a butterfly in remembrance of the victims of Residential Schools. In addition, a Three Sisters Garden which incorporates the Three Sisters (corns, beans, and squash) planted as companions in the traditional way, as well as many other food plants which are harvested and shared with the community.
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New Healing Place Sites - The Bruce Trail
In collaboration with Bruce Trail Conservancy, Forest Ontario, and Indigenous partners, Plenty Canada has identified the locations for two new Indigenous Healing Gardens.
Healing Gardens, also known as Healing Places, are havens used to meaningfully engage Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in a restorative process, creating physical places of healing while at the same time cultivating safe and ethical spaces. They are intended to provide spatial experiences defined by natural elements that convey Indigenous principles and teachings and nurture a healing process of reconciliation.
The identification of the new garden locations took place over a two-day assessment trip during which the team visited five sites along the Bruce Trail recommended by Brian Popelier, land stewardship coordinator and ecologist for the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
The first day of travelling took place in the southern region of Ontario. The group comprised two from Plenty Canada, two from the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network, and three from the Bruce Trail Conservancy. The locations visited included Fisher’s Pond, Smokey Hollow, and a section of the Bruce Trail called Woodend Meadows, located near Niagara College.
By the end of the day it became clear which area best suited a Healing Garden. The southern Healing Garden is planned to be located along the Bruce Trail at Smokey Hollow in Waterdown. Our group greatly enjoyed the contours and surroundings of that space, relaxing to the wind blowing through the tall Indigenous grasses while picturing how the land looked and felt like an amphitheatre.
On the second day, the group of seven became eight as a member from Forests Ontario, Emily Hart, joined the contingent. The group travelled to Cape Chin and a meadowland called Vanishing Stream, located near Colpoy’s Bay. Upon assessment everyone in the group agreed that the northern Healing Garden location be that of Cape Chin, which includes a stunning outcrop view of nearly pristine shoreline along Georgian Bay. Not only is the location secluded from bustling city or suburban life, but visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the scenic view of crystal teal waters.
Our group became immediately impressed and in awe of our surroundings. It felt like we had been transported into a place we could all call home. There is the potential added bonus of a house on the property, which could provide support for local Indigenous partners and a space for further Indigenous programming for youth, but plans for the home have yet to be finalized by the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
Both Healing Gardens will help connect Ontario's northern and southern regions. The gardens will provide many programming opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth and provide inspirational spaces for all who visit. The process now turns toward assembling appropriate members from the participating organizations and identifying Indigenous advisors from each of the regions to provide cultural and curatorial guidance. Through this process conceptual content will be determined, Indigenous plants selected, designs considered and approved, and resources procured with installation to begin in 2023.
Healing Gardens, also known as Healing Places, are havens used to meaningfully engage Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in a restorative process, creating physical places of healing while at the same time cultivating safe and ethical spaces. They are intended to provide spatial experiences defined by natural elements that convey Indigenous principles and teachings and nurture a healing process of reconciliation.
The identification of the new garden locations took place over a two-day assessment trip during which the team visited five sites along the Bruce Trail recommended by Brian Popelier, land stewardship coordinator and ecologist for the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
The first day of travelling took place in the southern region of Ontario. The group comprised two from Plenty Canada, two from the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Network, and three from the Bruce Trail Conservancy. The locations visited included Fisher’s Pond, Smokey Hollow, and a section of the Bruce Trail called Woodend Meadows, located near Niagara College.
By the end of the day it became clear which area best suited a Healing Garden. The southern Healing Garden is planned to be located along the Bruce Trail at Smokey Hollow in Waterdown. Our group greatly enjoyed the contours and surroundings of that space, relaxing to the wind blowing through the tall Indigenous grasses while picturing how the land looked and felt like an amphitheatre.
On the second day, the group of seven became eight as a member from Forests Ontario, Emily Hart, joined the contingent. The group travelled to Cape Chin and a meadowland called Vanishing Stream, located near Colpoy’s Bay. Upon assessment everyone in the group agreed that the northern Healing Garden location be that of Cape Chin, which includes a stunning outcrop view of nearly pristine shoreline along Georgian Bay. Not only is the location secluded from bustling city or suburban life, but visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the scenic view of crystal teal waters.
Our group became immediately impressed and in awe of our surroundings. It felt like we had been transported into a place we could all call home. There is the potential added bonus of a house on the property, which could provide support for local Indigenous partners and a space for further Indigenous programming for youth, but plans for the home have yet to be finalized by the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
Both Healing Gardens will help connect Ontario's northern and southern regions. The gardens will provide many programming opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth and provide inspirational spaces for all who visit. The process now turns toward assembling appropriate members from the participating organizations and identifying Indigenous advisors from each of the regions to provide cultural and curatorial guidance. Through this process conceptual content will be determined, Indigenous plants selected, designs considered and approved, and resources procured with installation to begin in 2023.