Shovels are in the ground for Stonewall’s new Indigenous and Seniors Healing Garden, with the goal of completing the hardscape in time for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Sept. 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which aims to honour survivors of residential schools and children who never returned home, along with their families and communities. On this day, people across Canada wear orange shirts as a collective recognition that every child matters.
Earlier this year, Stonewall’s Communities in Bloom group received a $25,000 federal government grant to create the Indigenous and Seniors Healing Garden, which will be an extension of the existing Memory Garden.
Stonewall resident Grace Schedler, who is a partner with Circles for Reconciliation, came up with the concept for the new garden. For her, reconciliation starts with awareness so all Canadians know what happened to the First Nations people of Canada.
On Wednesday, Sept. 20, Schedler met with Communities in Bloom representatives for a smudging ceremony and tobacco offering prior to breaking ground for the garden project.
“Tobacco is one of the sacred medicines used by First Nations people and most frequently used in ceremonies. A gift of tobacco is a sign of respect and is usually offered at the beginning of an event. Traditional tobacco is used to promote spiritual, mental, physical and community well-being. Tobacco is most often presented to Elders, knowledge keepers, teachers who offer their time and guidance,” Schedler explained.
“Smudging is to cleanse away any negative thoughts, negative energy and clear the mind for a fresh start.”
After that, Spruce Acres Landscaping set to work on the hardscape. The company will also create a mulch pathway surrounding the Memory Garden to integrate both spaces together.
Communities in Bloom members plan to plant trees, shrubs and plants next year.
“It’s going to be a really nice addition,” said Asta Johannesson, who co-chairs the Communities in Bloom committee along with Shelley Proven.
“We’re going to make some spaces with Indigenous plants but also with some old-fashioned plants that will bring good memories for our seniors.”
Anyone interested in volunteering for Communities in Bloom can contact Asta Johannesson at astajohannesson@icloud.com or Shelley Proven at shelley.proven@gmail.com for more information.
To learn more about Circles for Reconciliation, or to get involved, visit www.circlesforreconciliaton.ca or call toll-free 1-866-794-2017.
To learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website at www.nctr.ca. This site also lists free daily lunch-and-learn events that take place during Truth and Reconciliation Week, which runs from Sept. 25 to 30, as well as free virtual educational programming.
Tribune photos by Lana Meier
