DECOLONIZING THE ARBORETUM: Indigenous Tree Interpretation and Language Keeping in Allan Gardens

Allan Gardens is an important gathering place for the urban Indigenous community in Toronto. Indigenous people come to this park for ceremony, storytelling, remembrance, and celebration. The Friends of Allan Gardens wish to support the Indigenous community’s cultural reclamation through the development of a tree interpretation and language keeping project in the park. Tree names and stories will be thoughtfully shared in multiple Indigenous languages based on counsel from community Elders and Knowledge Keepers. This project encourages everyone in the park community to engage with Indigenous language learning, ensuring these words are heard, seen, and felt on this land, forever.