Everyday Medicine: Traditional Plants for Our Bodies & Spirits- Resource List
In Indigenous cultures, plants are kin, teachers, and medicine. For many Indigenous communities, learning plant names, stories, and gifts is part of reconnecting to our bodies, spirits, and the land. This resource invites you to explore native plant teachings from Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ territories. You’ll find local names, traditional uses, and suggested places to visit.
This webpage accompanies the brochure received in our hygiene kit, providing you with all the links in one place.
Indigenous Plants
Click here for a master list of many local Indigenous plants, traditional uses, and the Indigenous names for them.
https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/Native%20Plant%20ID%20-%20full%20page.pdf
Local Plant Stories
This section shares local plant stories to help reconnect us with the land, deepen our relationships with plant relatives, and honour the teachings rooted in these territories.
Meegan (Beacon Hill Park) and Kwetlal food systems
https://openspacearts.ca/meegan-with-cheryl-bryce
Stinging Nettle
https://openspacearts.ca/tex-tex-with-beangka-elliott
Devils Club
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyUssKc2TLQ\
Salal, Cedar, and Spruce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9_RUWonCqA
More Resources
Accessing Outdoors
Interactive Map showing the Indigenous lands and names
The Power of Indigenous Foods with Jared Qwustenuxun Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTyM_-9be4I
Cedar Teachings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6KS4J8QyNQ
Medicine Plant Walk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avBVMNbSm84
Want to get outside more and find these plants for yourself? Here are some outdoor spots, accessible by bus! Walk estimates are based on the quickest bus route from downtown area. Timing and bus schedule may impact this.
Beaches:
Willows Beach (~10 minute walk from bus)
Arbutus Cove (~5 minute walk from bus)
Mount Doug Beach (multiple buses from downtown + 10minute walk)
Gonzales Bay (~5 minute walk from bus)
Steve Fonyo Beach (~10 minute walk from bus)
Saxe Point (~5 minute walk from bus)
Cadboro Bay (~5 minute walk from bus)
Banfield Park (~5 minute walk from bus)
Parks/Forests:
Mount Doug (Nature walk and hike, 1+ buses from downtown)
Summit Park (small hike, 5 minutes from bus)
Beacon Hill Park (Big park, 10mins from bus)
Camrose Park (10 min walk from bus)
Playfair Park (10min walk from bus)
Swan Lake (10min walk from bus)
Esquimalt Gorge Park (5 min walk from bus)