An Indigenous Knowledge Keeper or community member should be invited in to help you deliver this learning activity.
Instructions:
Spotlight on Language: Students learn the names for The Three Sisters, Corn, Bean, and Squash in Kanyen’kéha and are encouraged to add them to their Outdoor Learning Journal use them these throughout the Bundle. Students can also go to the online QUILLS dictionary to hear the words in Kanyen’kéha.
Kanyen’kéha
- The Three Sisters: Ahsen nikontate’ken:a
- Corn- Ó:nenhste
- Bean- Oshahè:ta
- Squash- Onon’ónsera
Teacher begins by leading a discussion with students in which they introduce the 3 Sisters, 3 Sisters gardening, and polyculture gardening in general. With the teacher, students discuss the distinctive role that each element of the garden (including the person planting) has in ensuring the health and vibrancy of the garden. Students should be able to explain how (the three plant species and the humans tending to the garden) work together to help each other. Ie: Students should be able to articulate what each element in the garden gives and receives. Students should be able to link this approach to gardening rooted in reciprocity to Indigenous ways of knowing and being in general and an appreciation of them as an interconnected system eg. (the whole is greater than the sum of its parts). Background information for teachers to help them lead the discussion can be found in Indigenous Gardening Practices Background.pdf. Student infographic is titled Relational Gardening.pdf.
- Teacher asks students to choose how they would like to express their understanding of how the 3 Sisters are interconnected. (Ie: corn stalk supports bean vines, beans provide nutrients (nitrogen) for the corn); squash leaves provide cover which helps retain moisture and prevents weed growth between the mounds); humans clear the land, pull the weeds, and pick the bugs.
- Students may choose to draw a diagram, make a model, act out a scene etc. Creativity and arts-based expressions should be encouraged!
Activity:
- Students visit a garden. There are many amazing Indigenous lead community gardens in Kingston. Some in operation in 2023 include:
- Highway 15 Indigenous Food Sovereignty Garden (Walking the Path of Peace Together) Website: https://www.faithunitedchurch.ca/walking-the-path-of-peace-together
- Kenhte:ke Seed Sanctuary and Learning Centre 1462 York Road Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, ON, Canada K0K 1X0 Contact email: ratinenhayenthos@gmail.com Website: http://kenhtekeseedsanctuary.com.
- Manidoo Ogitigan “Spirit Garden” (Lake Ontario Park) 920 King Street West, Kingston, ON https://rb.gy/0uou4
- Number 9. Gardens 40 acres of quintessential Ontario wilderness in eastern Ontario known as the Frontenac Arch Natural Area: this is the canvas on which we are creating Canada’s first centre for promoting sustainability and indigenous dialogue. No.9 Gardens is located alongside the Hawkridge Trail, 200 acres of protected UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and the spectacular natural beauty of Eastern Ontario. 1516 Summers Road Rideau Lakes, ON K0E 1N0 Contact email: info@no9.ca Website: https://www.no9gardens.ca.
- Students learn about seed songs and the ritual of opening and closing a garden with a song. Information included in Seed Songs.pdf. A Haudenosaunee community member should be invited into the learning environment when discussing seed songs.
- Students spend time writing a song or some words that are their own to open a garden ie: words that come from their own traditions and cultures, in their own language. This will also encourage students to develop a relationship with plants. Research does show that plants respond to positive energy such as talking to them kindly and playing soothing music. This will seem strange at first to some students but after a while they will come to enjoy it.
- Teachers can build this into a routine at school and encourage students to do this at home.
