ESKASONI, N.S. — A new memorial garden will honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls by creating a safe space just outside of the Eskasoni Mental Health building.
The garden has four plant beds in the four sacred colours and hopes to hold space to raise awareness about sexual-based violence against Indigenous women.
“We found a lot of Aboriginal women were targets,” said Dionne Denny, 23.
She is now working as a youth support worker, but her role is unique because she was one of the early participants in Dalhousie University's studies. The university partnered with Eskasoni mental health to finalize two research studies with youth in the community. Denny was part of the study that focused on sexual-based violence that is now a part of the recommendations the youth wanted to see happen.
Planning for the garden was quite extensive because they hope to house a lot. Right now, there's a space where sweet grass and tobacco are growing, along with traditional berries, the plant beds and a tranquility labyrinth. They hope to add flag poles, an archway, benches, a gazebo and a sweat lodge in the coming months. But Denny is just proud to see the project get off the ground.
“Now it’s out there and its really cool people get to see where our efforts are going,” said Denny.
Jeannine Faye Denny is also happy to see the garden growing. They broke ground on the project over a month ago and she's pleased to know it grew out of what the youth wanted to see and help from elder guidance.
Clark Paul is helping to guide the project. He made sure the white flower bed was facing north and will be building the sweat lodge at the garden in the coming months. He says the cultural knowledge is very important.
“Its a way of passing down our teachings and our cultural ways,” said Paul.
Paul is a residential school survivor and works as a cultural support worker for other residential school survivors by reintroducing them to their culture. He believes a lot of the violence in the Mi’kmaq community was brought here by colonization and says a lot of it has to do with the ways Euporeans think. For him, he’s heard the saying children should be seen not heard but he says that’s not the Mi’kmaq way.
“We can learn (from) the children, they were already born with the teachings, all we have to do is help bring them out and listen,” said Paul.
Matthew Gould, known as M.R. in the community, worked on the planning of the garden and works with Eskasoni Mental Health also. He’s been working with the project since it began as a research project and he was happy to be involved.
“I feel good taking part an acknowledging our people,” said Gould.
He hopes the garden feels welcoming to everyone. He and Jeannine Faye Denny worked together for years on the project. They say anyone hoping to donate can drop by or mail it to Eskasoni Mental Health.
