Ethnobotanical gardens: Connecting learning to communities and the land

Ethnobotanical gardens, defined here as landscapes featuring culturally-relevant native trees and understory plants, are sources for the revitalization of traditional knowledge as well as sources for cultural and ecological restoration projects. We have undertaken two ethnobotanical gardens at Northwest Community College, Northern British Columbia, with the intention of 1) promoting the development of relevant curriculum that focuses on First Nations peoples and their relationship with the land, 2) connecting educational institutions to the land and the community through such curriculum, and 3) providing a source for plants that are culturally useful for foods, medicines, and technology and ecologically useful for restorations. Within these ethnobotanical gardens, we are working with the local Tsimshian Elders to add signage and brochures for teaching Indigenous names of plants and their uses. Elders and students will also be engaged in tradition-based plant propagation, management, and harvesting. Both gardens provide the college campuses and surrounding communities with the opportunity to learn about First Nations peoples and their connection to the land through their relationship with plants.