September 30, 2024
Featuring: The Medicine Garden at Remai Modern
At Sproutbox, we’re always excited to highlight projects that bring people closer to the land and to each other.
In honour of Truth and Reconciliation Day, we’re proud to feature an article from the team at Remai Modern. The piece tells the story of their beautiful Medicine Garden—a space that fosters healing, reflection, and community in Saskatoon.
Read the full article below and let's reflect on the important role gardens can play in reconnecting us with nature and cultural traditions.
Maskihkiy Kiskinohamâkewin
Remai Modern is a contemporary art museum located in downtown Saskatoon, known for its innovative exhibitions and community engagement. The Remai Modern team created a Medicine Garden on the museum’s outdoor grounds, combining art with Indigenous tradition. Located along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, this project is inspired by the medicine wheel and was created to pass on traditional Indigenous knowledge to the next generation. The medicine wheel has four quadrants representing the four directions, each holding one of the four sacred medicines: tobacco, cedar, sage, and sweetgrass. These medicines play a vital role in spiritual practices used in traditional healing and ceremonies.
Above: Seventh Fire Singers. Photo by Carey Shaw.
Remai Modern Indigenous Program Guide, Kamisha Alexson consulted with Elders and community members to create a meaningful tool to aid in the decolonization of urban spaces. This garden is meant to be a safe space where one can sit amongst the medicines to reclaim their relationship to the land. Visitors are invited to take time to honour their spiritual, physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Participants gather at the opening ceremony for the Medicine Garden. Photo by Carey Shaw.
Once the garden was complete, Remai Modern hosted an opening ceremony for the Medicine Garden. The event welcomed community members, staff, board members, supporters, and members of the Saskatoon Residential School Survivors Circle. Highlights included drum and song performances by the Seventh Fire Singers, prayers by Elder Maria Linklater and a Fancy Shawl Dance by Raina Buffalo with singer Elmer Tootoosis. The celebration continued with a feast with food prepared by Chef Jenni Lessard, featuring Indigenous ingredients.
Raina Buffalo performs a Fancy Shall Dance with singer and drummer Elmer Tootoosis during the opening ceremony. Photos by Carey Shaw.
Chef Jenni shares her knowledge on how she gathers and prepares ingredients for her gourmet dishes.
Audrey Armstrong with Remai Modern staff Lyndon J. Linklater (Indigenous Relations Advisor), and Hayley Linklater (Membership Coordinator).
Throughout the summer, guests were invited to come visit the Medicine Garden and receive teachings from Kamisha. These diverse groups included local non-profit organizations, the City of Saskatoon Green Network, newcomer groups, art camp attendees, and more. Participants from Remai Modern’s Youth Art Night program also attended. Sessions featured teachings in the garden, followed by hands-on artmaking inspired by the teachings and plants.
Kamisha shares the four sacred medicine teachings throughout the summer with art camp participants.
The Medicine Garden at Remai Modern has made a significant impact, reaching hundreds of participants throughout the summer. This project has fostered connections and community building by providing a space for diverse groups to engage with and learn about sacred Indigenous medicines. It has also offered valuable educational opportunities for other organizations and our own staff to deepen their understanding of these important traditions. The garden not only celebrates Indigenous knowledge but also strengthens community ties and enriches the cultural fabric of Saskatoon.
All photos by Carey Shaw.
Maskihkiy Kiskinohamâkewin is led by Kamisha Alexson, Indigenous Program Guide with support from Kim Bird, Indigenous Programs Coordinator and Michelle Cates, Program Guide. Special thanks to Janet Villeneuve and Genevieve Prevost for their Indigenous plant knowledge, and to Sandra Walker, ethnobotanist.
Kinanâskomotin, thank you.
Maskihkiy Kiskinohamâkewin is presented by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment.
