Page 22 - GreenMaster Fall 2024

Due to urban expansion, it is unfortunately very rare to find sweetgrass growing in its natural habitat. By growing sweetgrass at the GTI, we aim to provide a resource for the Indigenous Student Centre, Office of Indigenous Initiatives, and Nokom’s House (the Indigenous research hub in development at the University of Guelph). Furthermore, we intend to foster open communication with the traditional caretakers of this land to better understand this native grass species.
The sweetgrass garden at the GTI was planted this spring and will be officially unveiled once the grass has become fully established. We chose to grow the sweetgrass in a planter box to ensure a clear separation from the rest of the Teaching Garden, and this avoids exposure to the inputs used on the other grasses. Sweetgrass should be grown as naturally as possible, especially if the goal is for use in smudging, ceremony, or tea.
At the start of this project, we first connected with the local Indigenous community to make sure we could act in a culturally sensitive and well-informed way. This included multiple site visits with several Knowledge Holders, soil testing, and discussions on how the sweetgrass will be maintained by the GTI staff and sustainably harvested by the Indigenous community on campus.
Resources:
An informational sign designed by an Indigenous educator will be posted next to the garden to educate of our visitors about the cultural importance of sweetgrass.
The sweetgrass garden project at the GTI began in 2022 and will be officially opened in fall 2024 or spring 2025. Prior to embarking on a project involving Indigenous peoples and culturally sensitive topics, it is crucial to invest time in reflection, building relationships, and fostering com- munity connections.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION CALLS TO ACTION?
1. Wear orange on September 30th.
2. Develop a way to commemorate
Truth and Reconciliation Day at
your course.
3. Identify and acknowledge
the territory where you live and work through a Land Acknowledgement.
4.Learn about local Indigenous peoples, communities, and athletes.
5. Build relationships with Indigenous businesses, community members, and Nations.
6.Explore recommendations 87 to 91 from the TRC on how to support Indigenous sport initiatives.
If you have already done the above, take it to the next level! You could host a field trip on the golf course, invite an Indigenous chef to collaborate with the kitchen to design new menu items, or work with a nearby Nation to host a fundraiser tournament. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so take time to figure out what works for your course and the community.
Get connected with the Guelph Turfgrass Institute by signing up to the newsletter at www.GuelphTurfgrass.ca or connecting on social media @GuelphTurf.GM
• Native Land Digital - www.Native-Land.ca
• The North American Indigenous Games - www.naigcouncil.com
• Example land acknowledgement from Purcell Golf: www.purcell.golf/indigenous
• Cobble Beach Golf links offering Chippewas of Nawash discounted golfing passes:
www.nawash.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Golf-Posters.jpg
News articles:
• Pro golfer partners with CJGA to bring the game to Indigenous youth; CBC News, Jan. 30, 2021 https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/pro-golfer-partners-with-cjga-to-bring-the-game-to-indigenous-youth-1.5892175
• ‘Sport is a big part of who we are’: How Ottawa’s Masters Indigenous Games is harnessing the power of sport to bring communities together; Sports Pro Media, August 23, 2023
www.sportspromedia.com/insights/features/masters-indigenous-games-ottawa-2023-hosting-cultural-traditions-sport/
• Dozens of Indigenous kids learn to golf from the pros in Fort McMurray; CBC News, Jan. 30, 2021 www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/golf-fort-mcmurray-indigenous-1.6153758
• Introducing Golf to Aboriginal Youth Will Pay Future Dividends; British Columbia Golf https://britishcolumbiagolf.org/uncategorized/1296-introducing-golf-to-aboriginal-youth-will-pay-future-dividends
• For many Indigenous Canadians, golf can help bridge cultural divides — when the sport can transcend its ‘sordid past with elitism’; Toronto Star, July 10, 2021 www.thestar.com/sports/golf/for-many-indigenous-canadians-golf-can-help-bridge-cultural-divides-when-the-sport-can-transcend/article_e45ad23d- d915-5b76-8899-12935a8302ca.html
• National Indigenous History Month: Renewing Relationships with First Tee – Canada; Golf Manitoba, July 21, 2023 www.golfmb.ca/articles/national-indigenous-history-month-renewing-relationships-with-first-tee-canada/
22 • CGSA • GreenMaster
Smudging: a cultural ceremony practiced by a wide variety of Indig- enous people in Canada. Smudging is the prac- tice of burning various medicinal plants and the smoke is used to cleanse a person, place, or item.