Mashkiki Gitigan

Crawford Lake Sanctuary, Milton, Ontario

Project partner: Conservation Halton

Timeline: 2021: design and install | 2022: planned expansion

Goal: To grow Indigenous medicine and food plants for healing and ceremony.

Before and after

Our work at Crawford Lake

Miinikaan designed and built the Mashkiki Gitigan (Medicine Garden). We planted and tended 30+ native tree species including butternuts, elderberries, and plums. The garden’s opening celebration was part of a fall Indigenous Food Sovereignty celebration spearheaded by NishDish Marketeria and Catering at their summer pop-up kitchen.

Miinikaan's role: Garden design and installation, planting ceremony and garden celebration event facilitation.

Collaborators: Elder Nookomis Carol Taylor guided this project. Conservation Halton staff joined in the planting and generously assisted with watering and maintaining the gitigan through the summer months.

Ceremony

Nookomis Carol Tyler guided our first meeting on the land with site staff, ensuring we took our time to walk around the land and listen. Together, in a slow and intentional process, we decided where to build the new garden bed and where to add new plant medicines around the area. Taking the time to listen to the land was important.

In May, 2021 Carol once again joined us and led the planting ceremony. We honoured the land and the plant ancestors with prayers, offerings, songs, and drumming.

Gallery: building the garden

Grandfather rocks brought by Conservation Halton staff for the new garden bed

First planting day after the ceremony

Newly transplanted medicines - White Sage and Asemaa

Butternut tree seedling

Mid July the first year

Beautiful Asemaa plants in the sun

“This garden has helped to educate tens of thousands of park visitors about Indigenous food sovereignty, heritage seed saving, and the resilience of traditional Indigenous agricultural practices. Most importantly, it has been a meaningful gathering space for Indigenous community members.
Miinikaan has a successful track record of inspired partnership projects in Halton Region. The team is dependable, communicative and has a strong expertise in their niche of work.”

- Brenna Bartley, Education Manager, Conservation Halton

Work with Us

Our speciality is Indigenous garden consultation, design and installation. In creating our gardens, we are revitalizing traditional Indigenous AgroEcology and Indigenous ceremony. We’re experts in growing food, container gardens and rooftop gardens, and we love transforming public spaces.
Get in touch to hire us for your project!