Indigenous Harmony, Ecology & Ancestral Learning

Your contribution to Plant Family: IHEAL directly supports the revitalization of Indigenous medicine, ecological stewardship, and ancestral wisdom within our community. Every dollar helps us empower youth through immersive workshops, connect them with invaluable elder knowledge, and cultivate a future where our relationship with the land is one of harmony and healing. Join us in nurturing cultural resilience and building a sustainable future for generations to come. Donate today and become a part of the Plant Family. 

Deepen your connection to the land and community by volunteering with Plant Family: IHEAL. As a volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to learn from elders, work alongside youth, and contribute to the revitalization of Indigenous cultural practices. Help us grow gardens, share stories, and build a more resilient future, one seed at a time. Discover the rewards of volunteering – sign up today! 

Indigenous communities have endured profound disruptions, including the loss of traditional ecological knowledge, environmental degradation, and persistent health disparities. "Plant Family: Indigenous Harmony, Ecology & Ancestral Learning "(Plant Family: IHEAL)" is a vital initiative designed to revitalize Indigenous medicine and ecological stewardship, recognizing their inextricable link to holistic health and sustainability. This project seeks to reclaim ancestral wisdom through a unique arts-in-education approach that emphasizes the power of song, oral traditions, and immersive hands-on experiences, fostering a deep connection to the body, the land, and our responsibility as caretakers of nature. 

This project will serve the intertribal community upon Coast Salish territory, a land rich in medicinal heritage intricately woven with the local ecosystem. Generations of disconnection resulting from colonization, urbanization, and modernization have led to declines in community health, cultural identity, and ecological stewardship. The community faces urgent challenges, including elevated rates of chronic illness, biodiversity loss, and diminished access to traditional foods and medicines. 

"Plant Family: IHEAL” will create dynamic Indigenous youth cohorts, spanning PreK through 12th grade, through the profound tradition of Plant Family Songs, empowering young people to reclaim stolen knowledge and dedicate the time needed for comprehensive learning. Elders, healers, and knowledge keepers will guide these cohorts, providing immersive workshops, teachings, and hands-on training sessions that integrate art-making activities with cultural learning. Participants will learn to identify, cultivate, and sustainably harvest native plants, understanding their medicinal properties and the ecological principles that govern the local ecosystems.

By reviving these ancestral practices, the project aims to dramatically improve community health outcomes by increasing access to traditional medicines, promoting food sovereignty through native plant cultivation, and deepening the connection to the land. It restores our culture through art, self-expression, and healing, while finding our nature relatives. It also contributes to local biodiversity conservation and reinforces the community's role as dedicated stewards of their environment.

The project's impact will be transformative: restoring vital cultural practices, strengthening community resilience, nurturing ecological balance, and improving overall well-being. By empowering individuals with knowledge and skills rooted in their cultural heritage, "Plant Family: IHEAL" will ensure that ancestral wisdom thrives, laying a foundation for a sustainable and harmonious future.

In summary, "Plant Family: IHEAL" addresses critical health and ecological challenges faced by many tribes by nurturing the profound relationship between Indigenous medicine and ecology. Through Plant Family songs and cohort building, art, expression, and healing, the project will revitalize vital cultural practices and contribute to the holistic well-being of the community, fostering a strong sense of identity, unity, and responsible stewardship for generations to come.