Aanii/ Hello,
Welcome to All Saints High School's Legacy & Teaching Garden. This garden has been developed in partnership with Algonquin and Métis knowledge keeper- Marlene "Kokum" Souliere, All Saints Staff- Penny Lessard, Vanessa Kirtz, Melanie Champigny, Karla Narraway, and Amy Talarico, as well as nac art students- 2023 & 2024, in hopes to share knowledge, to demonstrate the importance of interconnection, and to contribute towards reconciliation in a meaningful way.
The physical FORM of this garden ACKNOWLEDGES THE MEDICINE WHEEL TEACHINGS AND THE PLANTS WERE SEEDED IN SPECIFIC QUADRANTS: EAST, SOUTH, WEST AND NORTH.
This digital space of carefully curated dotted plant art is meant to act as a learning platform; A place to learn about and engage with indigenous plants.
Please feel free to Speak to them.
to Call them by name.
to contribute by Caring for all the grounds upon which you walk.
the plants in this garden are tended to lovingly, by both staff and students. in the artistic rendering of the plants in this garden, Students researched and learned about the plants and their healing abilities through personal research, course experiential learning workshops, and medicine walks with "kokum".
The dotted stylings of the student paintings were inspired by the amazing talents of mÉtis-artist and activist, Christi Belcourt. Christi's intricate and meaningful artistry demonstrates the importance of relationships within and with creation. To experience her mÉtis-floral-inspired work, to learn from her wealth of knowledge, and to engage with nature please watch:
As earth dwellers, we have a responsibility to care for all living things.
We belong to each other.
all organisms- from the plants, to the creepy crawlIes, TO The two-legged, and the four-legged- WE rely on one another for survival and existence. may we care for all of creation with empathy, kindness, and love.
All our relations,
Melanie Champigny
Algonquin Knowledge Keeper Monique Manatch, officially opens the All Saints Legacy Garden May 2, 2023.
Sacred tobacco is offered to Métis Knowledge Keeper Marlene "Kokum" Souliere as gratitude for her partnership and shared plant knowledge.
Participants celebrate the united contributions rooted within the All Saints Legacy Garden.