Kalamalka Indigenous Garden

The Kalamalka Indigenous Garden, known as K’nmaĺka Sәnqâĺten, offers guided tours that explore Syilx Okanagan culture, traditions, and Indigenous plant life. Visitors can learn the uses of native plants for food and medicine, hear stories from Syilx tradition, and gain insight into Indigenous knowledge of local ecosystems.

The Kalamalka Indigenous Garden offers a rare opportunity to experience Indigenous culture through a direct connection to the land. Each tour, led by knowledgeable Indigenous guides, introduces visitors to the plants and traditional knowledge that have shaped the lives of the Syilx people for generations. Guided by the Syilx principle of respect for all living things, the garden is both a learning space and a site of cultural preservation.

Visitors walk through areas filled with traditional plants like Saskatoon berries, soapberries, and balsamroot, each growing alongside its companion plants just as they would in the wild. Guides explain how each plant serves multiple roles—from food to medicine to cultural practices—providing practical demonstrations on harvesting and usage. The garden's backstory, including the contributions of local Elders like Theresa Dennis and Victor Antoine, adds an extra layer of connection, making it clear that the garden isn’t only about plants; it’s about honouring and continuing a rich heritage.

For anyone looking to connect deeply with Syilx traditions, the Kalamalka Indigenous Garden is a place that shows what real stewardship of the land means. It’s not just about learning names and uses of plants; it’s an experience that leaves visitors with a deeper appreciation for the land and the knowledge held within it.