Indigenous Entryway Garden
Toronto Public Library, Albert Campbell Branch, Scarborough, Ontario
Timeline: 2019: Indigenous engagement process, Tree Ceremony | 2020: garden concept design, public consultation presentation, working drawings | 2022: garden installation
Goals: Design the first ever Indigenous garden for the Toronto Public Library (TPL). Develop concept design based on TPL’s extensive public consultation process.
Design process
Flowering plants and medicines (part of working drawings detailing plant design and specs)
Teaching and reading circle. Tree stumps are reclaimed from trees felled on the site before construction.
Our Work at Albert Campbell Public Library
A key part of the renovation at this TPL branch was consulting with the public. Working with Indigenous engagement consultant Trina Moyan, Miinikaan prepared and presented garden design materials to library stakeholders and members of Toronto’s Urban Indigenous communities.
The garden design features sun-loving flowering plants that fill the beds alongside the sidewalk, while shade-tolerant species were chosen for areas under tree cover. Open areas will be seeded with Miinikaan’s own urban lawn alternative blend of native grasses (fescue), ryegrass, and clover.
Our garden design at the library supports learning for everyone. We designed opportunities for traditional Indigenous teachings of the Four Sacred Medicines and the 13-Moons Calendar into the centre.
Miinikaan’s role: Design concept creation, presentation to the public, production of working drawings, and garden planting and installation.
Collaborators: Indigenous engagement consultant Trina Moyan of Bell and Bernard Limited, Elder Whabagoon, and community consultation participants sessions who contributed their creativity and ideas to the design process.
LGA Architects designed the new branch. Aboud & Associates were the project’s landscape architects.
We look forward to planting in Spring 2022!
Tree ceremony. Front left: Carolyn King, former elected Chief of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation presenting the Moccasin Identifier Project, and front right: Indigenous engagement consultant Trina Moyan.
Ceremony
Elder Whabagoon led a tree ceremony in front of the library branch to honour the tree ancestors and all the gifts they provided before they were felled. Some of the trunks will be milled into new furniture for this branch by TPL. Miinikaan will use smaller branches to create children’s seating for a teaching circle in the new garden.
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!