Spring 2003 First Nations BA Program Garden

Kwulasulwat Garden Project for the First Nations Studies

Bachelor of Arts

Designed by Lee-Anne Dore

Kwulasulwat GardensTwo First Nations Women In Leadership at this University

Inspired This ProjectJoy White And Ellen White

Thank-you for allowing me to participate and

Thank-you for your teachings

Spring 2003 First Nations BA Program Garden

Dedication

This garden is dedicated to First Nations BA Elder in Resident Ellen White and thus is called “Kwulasulwat Gardens”. Ellen White was the inspiration for the garden, and Kwulasulwat is her First Nations name and means Many Stars.

Dr. Dan McdonaldIt was Dr. Dan Mcdonald’s idea to

incorporate the catalogue into the design with a walk about the garden to identify the plants. He also pointed out that the garden was also not just organic in nature but also in structure as well.

This is how I was able to present the projects concepts of Kwulasulwat Gardens.

Spring 2003 First Nations BA Program Garden

Ray Peters

I thank him for his Counseling and words of wisdom which helped me to follow through on this vision.

Project Goals

To Establish Kwulasulwut Gardens for the First Nations Studies B.A. program

Idea is Organic and provides structure for future growth

To Establish funding from the university to build the garden

The Gardens VisionThe First Nations BA program garden was the

vision of Joyce White, First Nations Instructor in the year 2002. She wished to create continuity between the landscape, the First Nations BA program, and Malaspina University-College. With the continuing of oral traditions and teaching of elders within the landscape, students get a hands on approach to plant identification, the protocols of plant use, and understanding the environment. This dream is becoming a reality. Through Joyce’s teachings of the four directions I began the design.

Kwulasulwat GardensThe conceptions for this garden are in the

beginning.The gardens design ideologies and

perspectives are flexible and can be made to accommodate another area.

Plant material for the Garden can be added as nature fluxes and the First Nations BA Program finds plants of particular interest.

Capital Improvement

Grounds Keeper and Facilities services person Gordon Howe supports the garden and suggests that the proposal for funding for the garden be put forth through Capital improvement costs. The garden is also supported by the Physical Plant Administrator Richard Kelm; the Horticultural Technician Program coordinator Michael Gerard and Horticulture Technician Connie Kuramoto; and Milner Gardens coordinator Jim Calawalder. Through capital improvement costs for Landscape beautification, the Kwulasulwat Garden Project can be built in three stages over three years by the Physical Plant.

Benefits of Sustainable Land UseThis garden will benefit many of the diverse disciplines at

Malaspina University-College. Departments such as Education, Silverculture/Forestry Management, Horticulture, Biology, Anthropology will benefit from the garden. This garden is designed to be disease, and pest resistant; it is also drought tolerant and would greatly benefit the Physical Plant of Malaspina University College, in its low maintenance. The beautification of the site enhances the new library and creates symmetry within the existing landscape. All the original landscape shall be encompassed by the new design and existing stands of trees shall not be moved, and smaller trees shall be moved and reincorporated into the landscape.

BA’s Conclusion

President Richard Johnson of Malaspina University College supports the First Nations BA Garden.

Rick Kelm from the Physical Plant supports the conception of the garden and referred me to

Gordon Howe Groundskeeper who supports the Idea and suggests a three stage proposal with Capital Improvement Costs.

BA’s Conclusion cont’dHorticulture Department Co-Ord Mike

Gerard and Horticulture Technician Connie Kuramoto also support the idea and suggest various ways of building the design including First Nations Youth work teams through Human Resources Canada’s employment and training programs.

Jim Caldwalder Coordinator for Milner Gardens andpart of the University's Horticulture Program was my mentor in the design. Jim supports this project and suggeststo keep on it with administration of the University for this Vision to reach its goal.

• The design is to scale.• Three major changes in design need to be made:1. Entranceway accessed from stairs on right.2. Bar-be-que Design cannot be a pit for fire codes3. Bottom slope access is to costly

*President Rich Johnson wants a copy of the design. He has offered a couple of thousand dollars to establish the garden. He awaits an email.

Next Stage

Contract: