Public Health Association of BC

Learning from the Land Toolkit

Learning from the Land: Resources and stories from K-12 schools engaging with Indigenous plants and pedagogy

This toolkit is a written compilation of resources and stories highlighting programs related to Indigenous plants and pedagogy within schools located in what is colonially known today as British Columbia, Canada. This document intends to inspire and support teachers, school administrators, and community  members who are interested in developing similar initiatives connected to K-12 schools. This document was created with input from partners across the programs, including Indigenous educators, school district administrators, community members and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers.

Download the toolkit!

 

Program Models

This toolkit introduces initiatives in different regions, in what is colonially known as British Columbia, that connect local and traditional Indigenous plants and pedagogy to K-12 schools and their communities. Three Indigenous plant and pedagogy programs are highlighted:

  1. The Harvest4Knowledge program takes place on the homeland of the Lekwungen people, now known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations on South Vancouver Island.
  2. The Indigenous Foodscapes program takes place on the unceded, traditional and ancestral territories of the takes place on the unceded, traditional and ancestral territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations on the South Coast of BC.
  3. Local Foods to School that takes place on Stk’emlupsemc te Secwépemc Nation homelands in Interior BC.

 

Lesson Plans

These lessons have been taught by educators from all over BC and may need to be adapted for your own regional traditions, plants and animals, and stories. Each lesson includes the background of the educator, their connection to the Indigenous school program, information about language resources, and a traditional story from the ancestral territory on which the lesson originated. The lesson plans each contain relevant BC Curriculum connections.

The five lesson plans are:

  1. Acknowledging the Territory
  2. Observing and Engaging in the Garden
  3. Planning the School Garden
  4. Native Plant Walk
  5. Plant Signage

 

Native Plant Resources

Also included in the Toolkit: Key Considerations, a Sample Budget for a Native Plant Garden, and Native Plant Resources.