SFU Archaeology advances Indigenization with new Native Plant Garden

On September 21st, SFU’s Department of Archaeology unveiled their Native Plant Garden — an initiative in recognition of their 50th anniversary that aims to build a place of community and advance Indigenization on SFU’s Burnaby campus.

“After years of walking past the garden on the way to work and feeling uninspired by the invasive ivy covering the space, we approached facilities about taking ownership of the area to create a garden that reflects the places and spaces that many archaeologists undertake their work in,” says Merrill Farmer, manager of the Department of Archaeology.

Before planting began, faculty, staff and students volunteered their time over the course of three days to remove the invasive ivy that occupied the space for decades and researched and sought advice on which plants to include. Now, the garden is home to more than fifty native plant species that hold cultural significance to Coast Salish peoples — on whose unceded traditional territory SFU resides.

Throughout the garden, visitors will find information on each plant, including their Indigenous names, cultural significance and medicinal uses. The revived space also serves as a learning opportunity for health science, biology and archaeology students studying ethnobotany, the healing properties of plants and more. 

“Whether it’s through an opportunity for reflection or hands-on learning, we hope the space will be inspiring and motivational for SFU community members,” adds Farmer.

To complete the project and help create a place-based connection to the garden, the department commissioned an art piece by Jesse Recalma (Instagram: @saatlamarts), a Coast Salish artist and a member of the Qualicum First Nation, to serve as a focal point of the garden. The sculpture features a cormorant, which is seen as a portent of important archaeological sites, and two herring, a cultural keystone species.