At
Memphremagog Elementary School, traditional Iroquois teachings enhanced a
pre-existing garden project. The garden has been built up over the last few
years. It now consists of a 9,000 sq foot fenced-in garden space with both
raised and in-ground beds. The vision is to create an enchanting, living,
learning environment for our students and community. The garden has become a
catalyst for all sorts of interesting cross-curricular and community-related connections.
One
of the most interesting projects this year, was the addition of a traditional “Three Sisters Garden”. Some students had learned last year about the idea,
during the Project of Heart activities. But this year artist and Elder Ena Greyeyes became
involved and not only spoke to the students, but led a seed-planting ceremony.
All day classes came out and each student was given a seed. Once they’d planted
the seeds correctly she played her drum and visualized with the students about
the symbiotic connection between the land and their bodies, having them feel
the heartbeat of the earth and their own heartbeat.
CLC Coordinator Pervana Mladenov explained, “Before this the students understood the idea of a Three Sisters Garden, they had learned it was a companion planting technique; for example they knew that the corn supports the beans. But Ena brought a whole other dimension of wisdom and history and spirituality to it that had a profound impact.”
Though
Ena is a Cree Elder, not Iroquois, she now lives in this area and she was able
to learn what was needed to help the students and brought her deep wisdom about
traditional spirituality to help everyone really feel the connection between
the earth and the seeds and ourselves. Ena is a Residential School Survivor, an
artist and a children’s writer and storyteller. In fact she had been visiting
the school for many months doing art projects and sharing stories with cycle
2-3 social studies classes, when Pervana and she got to talking about the
garden.
Follow
up after the seed-planting revealed the depth of impact. Many teachers who
hadn’t been doing Aboriginal related content in their classrooms thanked
Pervana for organizing the event. Unanimously teachers agreed it would be
worthwhile to repeat next year. Kids in every grade level were
so well behaved. “They were really respectful & very engaged the whole
time. Ena really had a way of opening your heart, even kids who are usually
unfocused during activities.” In feedback surveys many students mentioned that
they now felt more responsible for the garden and the earth. Another frequent
comment was that they learned a lot listening to Ena’s stories.
Now that this connection has been formed, Pervana is
committed to having Ena come back to the school next year, and to continue
growing this friendship that notably focuses on both the beautiful aspects of
traditional culture, and the diffculties of IRS history in Canada.
