kamâmak nihtâwikihcikan ᑲᒫᒪᐠ ᓂᐦᑖᐃᐧᑭᐦᒋᑲᐣ
In collaboration with Finding Flowers Project
Summer 2022
10146 96 Street, Edmonton AB (north of Ociciwan - 10124 96 Street)
Inspired by the work of the late Mi’kmaq artist Mike MacDonald’s, Butterfly and Medicine Gardens, kamâmak nihtâwikihcikan is composed of plants indigenous to the Americas. These Indigenous plants attract and sustain pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, and can often be seen as traditional medicines used by Indigenous people.
In collaboration with Finding Flowers Project, Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective explores and expands on Mike MacDonald’s work; building a new garden in the downtown core of amiskwacîwâskahikan. Like Mike MacDonald’s gardens this space is an invitation to co-exist, centering reflection, interaction and care with medicine plants.
Finding Flowers Project is an interdisciplinary research project that integrates art, ecology and education. Inspired by the work of the late Mi’kmaq artist Mike MacDonald, Finding Flowers grows, revitalizes and cares for native pollinator gardens as art installations, and as spaces for community contemplation and knowledge co-production.
Finding Flowers research team is housed in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC), at York University, and is led by Anishinaabe curator, artist and EUC Assistant Professor Lisa Myers and Conservation Biologist and Assistant Professor Dr. Sheila Colla as Principal Investigators; and artist and educator Dana Prieto as Research Associate. Findingflowers.ca
Garden design by Tiffany Shaw
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Garden is open all Summer (June 4 to October 31, 2022)
Garden Hours: Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Cost: Free
Accessibility notes: Garden entrance measures 4’ wide. There are no steps but ground is uneven. 6’ of access between planter paths. There is currently no seating or shade in the space. There’s no access to washrooms outside of event hours.
Transit: ETS stops at 96 Street and Jasper Avenue 1 minute walking distance (routes 2, 111, 131), 95 Street and Jasper Avenue 5 minutes walking distance (Routes 1), 100 Street and Jasper Avenue 10 minutes walking distance (Central Station, routes 8, 130X, 150X, 201). Paid city street parking and paid impark lots available.
We acknowledge the support of Canada Council for the Arts
Big thanks to 88 Fooks for use of the space for our garden.
Special thanks to Salisbury at Enjoy, Boyle Street Community League and our neighbours.