{"id":545,"date":"2025-11-20T15:15:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T23:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.kpu.ca\/placed-based-learning\/?p=545"},"modified":"2026-01-21T14:27:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T22:27:22","slug":"rewilding-our-hearts-and-actions-ecology-sustainability-creativity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.kpu.ca\/place-based-education\/2025\/11\/20\/rewilding-our-hearts-and-actions-ecology-sustainability-creativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Rewilding Our Hearts and Actions: Ecology, Sustainability & Creativity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IDEA 2100 – Zainab Ibrahim<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary:
Six activities related to reciprocity, plant medicine, creative storytelling, Coast Salish Weaving, and a local streamkeeper walk are described.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activity: Reflecting on the Gifts of the Land<\/strong>
After reading the chapter “The Gift of Strawberries” from\u00a0Braiding Sweetgrass<\/em>, students are invited to step outside and spend quiet time in nature. They are asked to observe their surroundings and reflect on the gifts the land offers, whether that be shade, birdsong, or simply stillness. After identifying the gifts, students reflect on what reciprocity might look like in return and how they might give back to the land in meaningful, respectful ways. We conclude the activity with asking them to capture their learning through writing or visual expression, drawing or noting their thoughts while still immersed in the outdoor space and then share it in a circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reciprocity Project Proposal<\/strong>
Building on the themes from Braiding Sweetgrass<\/em>, students are asked to design a Reciprocity Project as a class assignment. They create a proposal that includes a clear action plan, timeline, goals, expected impact, and the roles and resources needed to bring the project to life. Students are encouraged to think practically and creatively, reflecting on possible challenges and what outcomes they hope to see. The aim is to connect theory to action, rooted in a commitment to care and responsibility for the land and community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guided Walk with a Streamkeeper<\/strong>
To deepen understanding of local ecosystems, students participate in a guided nature walk at Cougar Creek Park<\/a>, led by local streamkeeper Deb Jones. During the walk, they learn about the importance of stream stewardship and the impact of human activity on water health. The streamkeeper highlights both current threats and community efforts to maintain the beauty and function of the creek. The experience invites students to consider their own role in caretaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant Medicine and Tea Workshop<\/strong>
In collaboration with Chef Sarah Meconse Mierau, students attend a hands-on workshop focused on plant medicine and tea-making. They learn about the properties and uses of various local plants, while also discussing cultural teachings related to plants, health, and seasonal changes. This experience helps students connect to Indigenous knowledge systems through a sensory and embodied practice, emphasizing respect, relationality, and healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Echo Tales: Re-Imagining Through Story and Art<\/strong>
In this creative assignment, students are asked to write from the perspective of a non-human being: a tree, mountain, stream, or animal. The task is to explore how this being is impacted by climate change and human behavior, and to imagine what a rewilded, more harmonious future might look like from their perspective. Alongside their written piece (poem, short story, or essay), students create a visual component such as a collage, drawing, or digital artwork to express the emotion or message behind their narrative. This assignment invites students to engage empathy, imagination, and ecological awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Power of Coast Salish Weaving, Stories and Connections to the Land<\/strong>
In this session, students are joined by an Indigenous weaver who shares her knowledge about the Coast Salish weaving traditions. She speaks about the deep cultural, spiritual, and relational significance of weaving, emphasizing its role in storytelling, community connection, and maintaining ties to the land. Students have the opportunity to engage directly with the tools and materials she brings, allowing them to experience the practice hands-on. This activity helps students understand weaving not just as a craft, but as a powerful expression of Indigenous knowledge, history, and resilience. <\/p>\n\n\n