About 100 people gathered June 19th to celebrate the opening of the friendship garden “Gdinuhwendimin” at the Beach park in Bobcaygeon. There was a nice turn out of folks from Bobcaygeon, two classes from Bobcaygeon Public School, members of the Getsiinyag – the over 55 group from Curve Lake First Nation. Author Drew Hayden Taylor, Pat Warren, members of the Horticultural Society from Fenelon Falls and friends such as Ann Adare of Bobcaygeon, Three Islands One Heart were also in attendance. We were honoured to have everyone there.
Elder Mary Taylor opened the gathering with her drum and a song in the four directions. Rodney Smith-Merkley of TRC-Bobcaygeon and the Mishkodeh Centre for Indigenous Knowledge, welcomed everyone and told a bit of the history of this area. Gidigaa Miigizi-bun (Doug Williams) had shared the story with Rodeney and others a few years ago of his grandmother travelling from Curve Lake to camp nearby where the Smith-Merkley family now resides close to the Beach Park. Over a few days she would sell her baskets to the folks both in Bobcaygeon and then later in Fenelon Falls. Doug mentioned that he caught a few fish at the rapids when he accompanied her.
Chief Knott from Curve Lake First Nation directed much of his greeting to the students, engaging them and getting a rousing “aaniin” welcome from them. He told more of the history of how the people used the waterways as highways with the war canoes being the equivalent of present day transport trucks carrying goods from one place to another. His message was to celebrate life and to recognize how the kids present are our future.
Sherry Telford, co-keeper of TRC-Bobcaygeon, brought the concept behind Gdinuhwendimin “We Are Related” the Friendship Garden full circle. She spoke about how when one has planted a garden they need to tend to it, watering it and pulling weeds nurturing the relationship with the plants. As with all things, we are in relationship with each other in order for our friendship to grow. It is our responsibility to tend to this relationship in a similar fashion to how we tend to the garden. Our hope is that we continue to learn about each of the plants and share our knowledge as we go.
Since June is the time of Strawberry Moon, Mary Taylor told the story of the strawberry and had one of the students, Colin, help pass them out to all in attendance until they were all gone.
Storytelling is a powerful form of communication and Mary was very engaging. As one person commented “my personal take-away from the event was Elder Mary Taylor’s strawberry story. This is the first time that I have heard her story telling…and the way she spoke…I was mesmerized. I know y’all have heard her before, but I was greatly moved. I watched the “young ‘uns” watching her talk. There were so many ‘listening’ to her story. Can’t wait to hear her again!”
Later on Mary talked about Sema or tobacco, a sacred plant, and how it is received in the left hand and can be laid down as an offering to our plant relatives. She also talked about sacred plants such as Sage being used in smudging and how to smudge our eyes and ears, our mouth and hearts with the intention to see clearly, listen well and speak good words.
Sandwiches and swiftly melting ice cream cones rounded out the day topped off by an enthusiastic sing-a-long. Thanks to the Mishkodeh Centre for Indigenous Knowledge for their help to fund this event and to the 50/50 Community Fund for assistance with funding the digging of the garden beds and the purchase of plants. Thank you also to Wayne McMullen for getting everyone involved in singing and special mention to the last minute guitar player volunteer.