First of all I would like to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territories of the lekwungen and west saanich first nations where we live,learn and do our work. i’m  so grateful

That they allow us to use the resources that the sanctuary provides and that we are able to learn on their land!    

Throughout our time visiting Swan Lake we read this book and responded with our own thoughts to various sections. This is one of my responses.

Braiding Sweetgrass

Question Inspiration:

Write these questions in your journal to inspire your answer  you can write in your journal.

Why is the world beautiful?

What brings you joy?

How can indigenous and scientific worldviews be woven together?

How is wisdom different from knowledge?

Who in your life would you consider to be knowledgeable and why?

Who in your life would you consider to be wise and why?

- I don’t know how to explain the beauty of this world. Sometimes it feels like I don’t deserve this earth or anyone else for that matter. The animals and the plants god I just can’t wrap it around my tongue. The best way I can describe it is a feeling in my heart, a sense of freedom and other world-ness like I’m sucked into another place. I want to dance in the rain, sing in the fields and stroll and touch the flowers. For me only feelings can describe true beauty.  

- My joy comes from community and feeling at home. My laughs and being able to be myself

- By understanding indigenous ways of learning and medicine it will be easier to combine them. by being educated and willing to learn. there is a huge possibility that the two can work together!

- I  think of knowledge as being so called “smart” having an understanding of some sort of topic.

Wisdom you can only achieved by experiences and deeper understanding of emotional intelligence and the world around you and always willing to educate others and tell  the life lessons you’ve learned  

- I would say my uncle he’s very smart but lacks some emotional intelligence and a deeper understanding of the world.  but he still understands right from wrong  and you definitely don’t need to be wise to understand that.

- I’m not sure if I know a lot of wise people honestly. I feel like we are still in a society that values knowledge over wisdom to some degree. Not a lot of people know the difference. I have been lucky enough to be educated on important subjects that are so called controversial I can bring my life experiences to the table to deeply empathize with others and give well rounded advice. I wouldn’t say I’m so called wise because I haven’t been around for that long but I would definitely say that with the different situations life has thrown at me has made me a stronger and more emotional understanding and mature. I do think that I am emotionally intelligent and experience can absolutely build a stronger more empathetic person.

-  restoration - an invasive plant I learned about is himalayan black berry. The only way to remove it is to cut it but it spreads easily and grows back fast. The plant ruins the dirt and if it's near a native plant it can suffocate it! So we would cut it up and put it in a bag to be composted . We used cutters and gloves to remove them.

- pollination- pollination is important to reproduce and keep plant and animal species alive. We learned about bees,butterflies,moths,beetles, and flys. They all specifically match up to plants and choose a shape and smell that attracts them!

- ethnobotany- snow berries are everywhere. They have white berries and thin branches . If you have a scratch or burn, rub it on for a cooling effect  . Oregon grapes have shiny leaves and blue/purple berries during the early fall and they are edible!  Camas is a purple flower with a bulb underneath that can be boiled and eaten . always remember to respect these plants and responsible care for them and to pick up garbage if seen. Give back by restoring the native plants to there natural habitat!

                                                  Braiding Sweetgrass

Story of knowledge

Mya was always loved traveling to different places

And exploring nature. She was a dare devil and would do anything to get attention

One she saw a tree a big tree

The tree spoke to mya and said don’t climb me you get hurt! But mya didn’t care she climbed the tree and got to the top looking down at the world below! She noticed a white flash at the bottom and she decided to climb down she was at the bottom and the bam 💥! She slipped of the tree

She wasn’t badly hurt just and had irritated skin

Mya started to cry she her home was a 5 minute walk away and she felt hopeless. But then the great big tree started to speak again! The tree said I take pity on you child, go to the white plant and rub the berries where it hurts. Confused but not knowing what else to do mya went over and rubbed the berries on her skin. The pain was relieved and mya confusion turned in to embarrassment. I’m sorry tree I should have listened all you did was help me and I disobeyed!

Child it’s okay, listen to your wise ones and be careful next time we only want what’s best for you!

Thank you and “I will” Mya replied. Smiling, she waves goodbye and thanks the tree. When she got home mya passed on her knowledge on what the tree told her and from that day she always listened to the wise tree!!! 🌲

Braiding Sweetgrass

Line starters:

Write these line starters in your journal then complete each statement as many times as you can before moving on to the next line starter.

Ways I can appreciate the earth are…

Ways I can enjoy the gift of strawberries (or other food from the Earth)...

Ways I can communicate with the natural world…

Ways I can give back to the earth are…

Ways I can help others see the earth as a gift are…

Ways I can engage in reciprocity with the world around me include

- taking walks through nature, walking through forests and by the ocean has always helped with my mental health. As someone who’s struggling to find motivation to get out more when I do, I always ask myself why I don’t appreciate the gifts this earth has given me. Sometimes looking at the leafs and taking a closer look at everything can give you a deeper understanding of everything around you.

- Honestly, getting fresh strawberries or local farmed fruit is probably the best and most ethical way of reflecting on eating I’ll call it. Being grateful for the labor it take and the different elements used to grow these strawberries water, sun and earth understanding the gift of natural food is just one of the remarkable things this world offers

- by listening to the birds' calls to just silently watch the ecosystem around you by being able to listen to what’s happening around you. Letting your senses get in tune with the world around you then you can communicate with the things around you.

- I can give back to the earth by starting a garden or doing restoration like a swan like caring for the indigenous plants and animals. And educating others on what they can do to help. Also protesting about climate change and how to help our environment.

- talk about your views on the earth and apply an indigenous way of thinking to bring back the wisdom lost through the ages. Lots more children in school are being educated on what’s happened and still happening to indigenous people all over the globe. By applying that way of thinking and wisdom and basic empathy, using your wisdom to educate others is a great way to spread word about our amazing world.

- Like I said growing a garden and maybe trying to grow some indigenous plants will absolutely engaging in  reciprocity. and getting rid of invasive plants