On Monday, June 28th a team of colleagues from the Building More Bridges initiative, including Indigenous folks and non-Indigenous allies, came together (connected in spirit and via Zoom) to ensure that the inaugural garden was planted in a Good Way. The group gathered with ceremony and a traditional land opening was led by Elder Valerie Nicholson. The children who we lost to residential schools, were honoured collectively by planting wildflowers in a cedar flowerbox in Dr. Denise Jaworsky’s garden on the traditional lands of the Ts'msyen (Tsimshian) of the Kitsumkalum and Kitselas First Nations. As the team witnessed the planting of the seeds and their first watering, a beautiful rainbow appeared and was visible to all team members joining virtually. The beautiful rainbow brought smiles to all everyone’s faces, and its appearance was a sign that the work was being done in a “Good Way.” The entire team felt this wonderful connection with the land that these wildflowers were planted on and were so grateful to have met virtually from across Turtle Island to be together for this important ceremony and remembrance. The cedar flowerbox will remain in Dr. Jaworsky’s garden for now until the team collectively decides on a permanent home for the beautiful box honouring the stolen lives of the children.Th
