Galt program connects people to the stories of prairie plants

By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 17, 2023.

Herald photo by Steffanie Costigan William Singer III, at centre, leads the Flora Foundations program on sipátsimo, sweetgrass and Blackfoot culture at the Galt Museum.

Plants on the Prairies hold much potential for healing and other uses that many of may not be aware of.

Api’soomaahka William Singer III, an instructor at Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society, shared his knowledge at the Galt Museum Saturday of the stories behind plants and what they can be utilized for.

“Everything that the land has to offer is connected to us in very different ways. But also with that connection are the stories that the land has. Every plant has a story. And so we learn a lot of different stories in our lives, but the ones we tend to forget are the stories from the land. And this is why it’s important for the community to know what’s around them to have a better understanding and (to) value nature.”

The last class of Flora Foundations for this year was held over the weekend and featured knowledge on sipátsimo, meaning sweetgrass in Blackfoot.

“For me, it’s actually healed me. I’ve had health issues. And so, with that, you know, understanding what can really help you but also for mentally as well. There’s a lot of different plants that really help you, help your mental health, which is one of the plants that we’re going to talk about today. Sipátsimo,” said Singer.

The Flora Foundations class started off this year with the topic of wild licorice root; last month was on Saskatoon berry bushes, and presently, the class topic is sweetgrass.

Galt Museum community program coordinator, Kristin Krein, described the community-based classes being held and the instructors teaching the classes.

“It’s a community program based on understanding plants from as many different sciences as possible. This is the third month, the third session installment plant… And the two individuals who are lending their brilliance to this Flora Foundations program are Api’soomaahka, William Singer, in bringing Blackfoot science. And we also have Jenny Burke, an instructor at the University of Lethbridge in biology, who is bringing botany knowledge.”

This coming Saturday at the Galt Museum the final Flora Foundation class will be held from noon to 2 p.m., with topic of sweetgrass being taught by Burke. Tickets are $10 per person.

Singer on Saturday talked about the connection the lands have to the Indigenous peoples and to settlers.

“There’s a lot of knowledge gained both ways. But for myself and with this program, it’s important because it’s there, these connections to the land, and the land has connections to either the Indigenous or the settlers. And both of them have this understanding of the stories of the plants… it’s just this other transfer of knowledge.”

Krein expressed the knowledge she has gained from this program and her surprise at how much information she did not realize initially about plants and the land in which they grow.

“I found it to be a little shocking how much I didn’t know about things because I’d only been given Western science as an understanding of plants. And just having like this beautiful moment in this job to, like, put together a bunch of people who are so good at what they do has been fun.”

Singer shared his past struggle with health on a Western diet, and how a traditional diet from the land has healed him and improved both his physical and mental health.

“For me, it’s actually healed me of how I’ve had health issues… there’s a lot of different plants that really help your mental health.”

Singer noted the benefits this program would have if it was implemented in an elementary school setting, and he said the knowledge being shared with the children was important in Indigenous culture.

“Going back to an understanding that we have to start with our kids. And something like this is really important because in the history of my peoples, children were taught at an early age as they went on.”

Singer voiced a word of caution to those starting out with harvesting wild plants and warned not to harvest plants you’re not sure of unless you’ve gotten professional advice first.

“In terms of like the plants that are out on the land, there’s always that curiosity to know what that plant is. I always suggest to talk to a botanist or someone that knows a lot about the plants as well as Blackfoot Elder knowledge holder. Because the thing you know that we practice is if you’re going to use that plant, you harvest it. I don’t want anyone to get harmed if they don’t know what to do.”