Decolonizing Our Food System
Decolonizing food systems goes beyond what you can see from the ground up. It is more than the colourful show above that makes a journey toward decolonization possible; it's the deep-rooted intentionality in weaving truths with change. Take a journey with us as we work alongside Musqueam Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
sniw̓ Indigenous Cultural Consultants are working with Little Mountain Neighbourhood House to learn place-based perspectives. Learning to follow the Musqueam practice of leaving your preconceived notions at the door. To be able to set aside everything you think you already know to be ready to listen to deep-rooted teachings with an open heart and mind. To learn in a good way.
Illustration of native plants at Riley Park Community Garden. Drawn by community members (names around the border).
A Journey Without a Destination – We are nurturing the native plants already in the Riley Park Community Garden and re-introducing plants of historical and cultural significance to the Musqueam Nation. Our journey is intentional and respects the land, soil, and place.
Join us as we host Elders in Riley Park to share stories and weave historical and contemporary truths of the land together in a good way.
Click through Valentina Pagetto’s illustrations to learn the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ names for 9 of the 60+ native plants in the Riley Park Community Garden. Scroll down to listen to the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ pronunciations of 5 native plants by Emery Point.
Thank you to the David Suzuki Foundation's Butterfly Ranger Program and Indigenous Pollinator Plant Map for use of the illustrations created by Valentina Pagetto.
We are grateful for the funding from the United Way of British Columbia Regional Food Hubs.
Native Plant Mapping
We were honoured to work with LoriAnn Bird (Snyder), Herbalist & Educator, in 2018 as she led community members on walks in the garden to learn more about the native plants. She also invited the community to draw the plants that were most significant for them. This map shows their work. Observe and read the map borders, for the names of the artists and the plants they drew.
The project was funded by the City of Vancouver Cultural Services.
