The Kalamalka Indigenous Garden offers visitors an interactive experience with Indigenous plants and their roles in Syilx Okanagan culture. With plant beds overlooking Kalamalka Lake, this garden brings traditional Syilx medicine and food plants to life, showcasing the deep knowledge and history of the local Indigenous people. The garden holds tours, workshops, and educational programs to teach visitors about the significance of these plants in Syilx traditions and ceremonies.
The Origins of Kalamalka Indigenous Garden
The Kalamalka Indigenous Garden, known as K'nmaĺka Sәnqâĺten, opened in 2017 after a group of Okanagan College staff, students, and members of the Dennis family came together to collect traditional plants and medicines from the Okanagan and Similkameen territories. This effort began with Elder Theresa Dennis's blessing and involvement, allowing the team to gather plant species like bitterroot, Indian potatoes, and Saskatoon berry bushes. Over time, the garden has become a sanctuary filled with dozens of medicinal and food plants important to Syilx traditions. The result is a living museum where plants thrive in companionship with one another, just as they would in their natural habitats.
The garden's name, K'nmaĺka Sәnqâĺten, holds deep meaning: "K'nmaĺka" comes from a cultural name for an Okanagan/Syilx Chief who lived by the lake, and "Sәnqâĺten" translates to "a place to plant food and herbs." This site, once part of the Okanagan Indian Band Reserve, is now a place where visitors can learn about the connections between the land and the Syilx people, explore the stories of plant companions, and observe how each plant holds its place in Indigenous traditions.
The Tours: Choose Your Path to Learning
At Kalamalka Indigenous Garden, three main tour options are available to suit a variety of interests, each offering unique insights into Syilx culture, plant uses, and Indigenous traditions. The guides leading these tours are Indigenous people passionate about sharing the knowledge of the Syilx Okanagan people, making each experience a true immersion into the local culture.
General Garden Tour
The General Garden Tour is designed for small groups interested in understanding the history of the Syilx people, as well as the primary cultural, medicinal, and culinary uses of Indigenous plants. This tour, lasting between 1.5 to 2 hours, introduces the cultural significance of various plants while highlighting the garden's origins and purpose. As visitors explore the grounds, they learn how plants like the sage bush, Saskatoon berries, and arrowleaf balsamroot contribute to both traditional healing and daily life for the Syilx people.
The tour guide will also share Captikʷł, the traditional stories of the Syilx people, explaining their worldview and relationship with nature. One highlight of this tour is learning about the traditional uses of plants for food and medicine, with demonstrations showing how to harvest and use each plant properly. This journey into Indigenous heritage gives visitors a greater respect for the land and its Syilx connection.
Corporate Tour
The Corporate Tour offers a more tailored experience for local businesses and teams seeking an engaging way to learn about Indigenous knowledge and environmental stewardship. This tour typically lasts 1 to 1.5 hours and is crafted to give employees a hands-on learning experience focused on the local plants' cultural and medicinal uses.
Guests will hear the Captikʷł of "How Food Was Given," and a brief history of the Syilx community. The tour guide leads participants through an identification session of plants like wild potatoes and soapberries, with a live demonstration on harvesting. Employees will engage in a short workshop on an Indigenous product and make a gift. They will leave with a deeper appreciation for the natural world and a unique understanding of local history and ecology.
School Tour
Designed with students in mind, the School Tour at Kalamalka Indigenous Garden offers an interactive way for young learners to engage with Syilx culture and Indigenous plant knowledge. This 1.5-hour tour incorporates storytelling, hands-on activities, and plant identification sessions suited for younger audiences. With a maximum group size of 30 students, the School Tour ensures that children can participate fully in every aspect of the experience.
During the tour, students are introduced to the Captikʷł of the Four Food Chiefs, an essential story in Syilx culture brought down from generation to generation. This story gives context to the importance of seasonal harvests and respect for the environment. Students also learn to make simple items using plants from the garden, such as tasting dried Saskatoon berries or learning how to pick a flower "in a good way." The guides make the experience accessible and captivating, showing students how to apply respect and care to the natural world around them.
Indigenous Plants: A Walk Through Traditional Knowledge
At the Kalamalka Indigenous Garden, each plant tells a story and serves a purpose. Some, like the Saskatoon berry, provide nutrition, while others, like sage, are used for medicinal and ceremonial practices. Visitors walk through the garden and encounter plants harvested across the Syilx territory, such as sunflowers, Indian potatoes, and wild huckleberries. Each plant grows beside its companion plant, mirroring the natural ecosystems of the Okanagan.
Guides also explain how each plant is harvested and used, such as transforming soapberries into a frothy, traditional drink or extracting medicinal oils from balsamroot leaves. This immersion in plant lore is an eye-opener for many, showcasing the depth of Indigenous knowledge about sustainable harvesting and respect for nature. Learning how each plant plays a role in daily Syilx life—from food and medicine to ceremony—offers visitors a new perspective on the local environment.
Contributions of Syilx Knowledge Keepers
The Kalamalka Indigenous Garden is what it is today with the contributions of Syilx Knowledge Keepers like Elder Theresa Dennis and Victor Antoine. Elder Dennis, from the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, shared her cultural expertise and granted permission for the project to harvest plants from the Similkameen territory. Her fluency in the Syilx language and knowledge of traditional practices have been instrumental in shaping the garden's offerings.
Victor Antoine, a descendant of Chief K'nmaĺka, who gave Kalamalka Lake its name, also plays a vital role. His efforts in language revitalization and cultural education serve as a bridge between generations. Through his storytelling, visitors gain insight into the history of Kalamalka Lake and the surrounding land. This connection to Syilx elders and their knowledge reinforces the garden's authenticity and role in sharing Indigenous traditions with the public.
Giving Back: Supporting the Kalamalka Indigenous Garden
Visitors to the garden can support its maintenance and growth through donations. Donations of $25 or more receive a tax receipt, and all contributions go directly toward garden operations. The garden also welcomes volunteer support, especially from community members who wish to help preserve the land and its plants for future generations. Each tour, donation, and volunteer effort contributes to the sustainability of this educational and cultural space.
A Deeper Connection to the Land
The Kalamalka Indigenous Garden is more than just a place to admire plants; it is an experience that encourages visitors to build a lasting connection with the land. Through their tours, the Kalamalka Indigenous Garden team hopes to share the beauty and depth of Indigenous knowledge. By learning to identify, respect, and harvest local plants, visitors leave with a renewed understanding of the natural world and their role within it. For anyone looking to experience Indigenous culture authentically, this garden offers a unique and powerful way to learn, reflect, and connect.
