Penelakut Elder Augie Sylvester plants the first yarrow in the Nuts’a’maat Forage Forest, surrounded by Galiano Island youth

Over the past several years, the GCA, with AMES serving as the driving force, has helped lay the groundwork for the establishment of a Nuts’a’maat sister garden on Penelakut Island.

Yet to be named, the garden will feature approximately 15 Indigenous medicinal plants, selected by our esteemed Elder, Augie Sylvester. This next phase of the project has been made possible through the dedication of Sophie McComb (of the Conservation Decisions Lab) and a generous grant she secured from the University of British Columbia.

In its initial phase, the garden will feature raised garden beds, thoughtfully built with a bench where Elders can sit, rest, and nourish their Medicines. The bench will be constructed by students from PILC (Penelakut Island Learning Centre), creating a meaningful opportunity for intergenerational learning and community involvement.

The garden will be stewarded by a multigenerational team led by Nicki Edwards, alongside her daughter and granddaughter. Even the rich, sandy soil needed for the garden will be brought to Penelakut by a local family who are eager to see this vision come to life.

The first planting ceremony is scheduled for November 9, 2026, and will include Quxmin, used for respiratory support, and Yerba Buena, traditionally used to relieve pain, soothe digestion, and ease respiratory congestion.

This special day will bring together children from PIES (Penelakut Island Elementary School) and Elders in a shared ceremony of planting, learning, and connection. The celebration will conclude with a community lunch, welcoming everyone to participate in bringing this Elder’s Medicine Garden to life.

More than a garden, this project represents a growing connection between generations, a commitment to caring for Indigenous Medicines, and a shared vision for nurturing knowledge, community, and the land for generations to come.