Written by Deborah Simpson, Vancouver Club Leader
Our club had the honour of learning about native plants with T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss (Skwxwu7mesh, Sto:lo, Hawaiian, Swiss), an educator, interdisciplinary artist and Indigenous ethnobotanist engaged in community based teaching and sharing. Cease recently created a garden next to the fieldhouse to educate the public about the beauty and benefits of native plants. The garden is in the shape of the Coast Salish Eye, which is formed with 3 traditional shapes: the triangle, crescent moon, and circle.
Did you know that salmonberry, red huckleberry, red and black elderberry, Oregon grape, and salal berries all make delicious and nutritious jam? Birds love the berries too. Wild onions and bleeding-heart plants attract hummingbirds, and stems from stinging nettles can be used for weaving.
If you would like to grow native plants in your garden, check out the Coast Salish Plant Nursery shop at the Maplewood Flats Conservation area. You can go for a beautiful forest and shoreline walk at the same time. Some nurseries in Metro Vancouver carry native plants as well, but call to find out before you go.
Cease also shared with us how the Squamish language is being revived. Initially, a small group of people were tutored by the four last living fluent speakers. Now this small group, who have become fluent speakers themselves, are passing this knowledge along to others. Every year more people of Squamish ancestry are becoming fluent Squamish speakers. Read more about this initiative here.
Cease Wyss will be at the fieldhouse until 2025. If you are visiting Stanley Park, drop by; the fieldhouse is just up the hill from the red fire engine in Ceperley Park. Check out the Coast Salish Eye garden and surrounding plants. You can identify the plants using the Seek or iNaturalist apps. We invite you to join the NatureKids BC iNaturalist project!
To keep updated with Cease’s activities at the Fieldhouse, follow her on Facebook and Instagram. We are so grateful and thankful to Cease for sharing her knowledge with us!
For young plant lovers, check out this new book: A Kid’s Guide to Plants of the Pacific Northwest: with Cool Facts, Activities and Recipes.
Experience Explorer Days with your family, learn about nature and receive a free subscription to NatureWild!