Many indigenous communities are seeking new ways to support their cultural heritage, improve health, and reconnect to the land. At the same time, public gardens bring a wealth of botanical knowledge, resources, and public space to foster dialogue and build bridges. However, direct engagement with indigenous communities is needed to move beyond cultural appropriation. We will present an open dialogue involving both indigenous people and representatives of public gardens who are exploring new ways that institutions can be supportive and learn from indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and relations to the land. Public gardens can do much more than present a simplistic representation of indigenous gardening practices. They can participate in building a new relationship between indigenous
and non-indigenous peoples.
Presenters: M. DeMotta, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kalaheo, Hawai‘i;
D. Galbraith, S. Richer, Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada;
D. Michener, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, Ann Arbor,
Michigan; G. Dieleman, D. Thomas, Assiniboine Park Conservancy, Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada; S. Charles, Humber College, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
