October Indigenous Resource Centre Professional Development Day: Medicine Series, Part 1

Directors, District Principals, Principals, Teachers, and Support Staff participated in a medicine harvesting day alongside the Williams Lake First Nation Culture Team, including Cecil Sheena and William Lulua, and the Community Forests Team, including Hugh Flinton and Heather Rolston. The day began with medicine offerings, introductions, and the setting of intentions. Participants learned how to harvest medicines responsibly while minimizing their impact on the land, as well as how to clear and burn broken debris that can impede plant growth. Medicines harvested included raspberry leaf, rose hips, balsam bark, yarrow, mullein, kinnikinnick, chaga, and juniper berry. Upon returning, the medicines were placed in drying trays for preservation until Part 2 of the series in November.