In Indigenous cultures, food is inseparable from the land; hunting, gathering and fishing connect people directly to the seasonal cycles of the environment, ensuring that the land is treated as a sacred ecological system rather than a mere resource.

Over the past year, communicators across UBC Okanagan have been fortunate to work and learn alongside Your syilx Sisters: kelsie kilwana and Lauren Marchand. Through five distinct workshops held between October and April, The Sisters have shared stories and teachings about syilx culture, as a means of educating communicators to unlearn colonial narratives and adopt more ethical storytelling. This is crucial, as UBCO communicators are the voice of the institution, and their personal biases have the possibility to influence how and why stories are told at the university.

The workshops culminated in a land-food session at Woodhaven Eco-Cultural Centre. Set amongst Woodhaven’s peaceful and serene wilderness backdrop, the attendees were first tasked with gathering leaves, branches, pine cones and any other natural items they could find to decorate their tables – reminding them of their connection to the beauty of this land we call the Okanagan. Everyone was then treated to an Indigenous feast featuring smoked elk and bison sausage, local cheeses, vegetables with a stinging nettle bean dip, deer and root stew, and wild berry crumble with siya (Saskatoon) whipped topping.

Each item in the feast was prepared according to kelsie and Lauren’s family and cultural traditions, and throughout the afternoon the Sisters shared many heartwarming stories about the relevance of each food item to the land. The attendees left the session with a greater appreciation and understanding of syilx culture, and how food is used to honour the land, the Creator and syilx ancestors.

This event could not have been a success without the use of Woodhaven – it not only allowed attendees to get away from their offices and computers for an afternoon, but it centred them within nature, allowing them to understand how important food is to cultural resilience and decolonization.

~ Contributed by Viola Cohen

Images below show the workshop at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre in the art studio.

The forest is a living classroom, a place of wonder, exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning. For a local group of homeschool elementary students, science and art came alive this past year through the changing seasons at Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre.

This recap on events was written by Sheila Cseszko, Learning Pod Coordinator & Parent.

In the fall, while squirrels rustled in the undergrowth and leaves fell from the trees, the students discovered how the forest prepares for a cooler season. They studied ecosystems, life cycles, and habitats, and explored decomposition on the forest floor. They created leaf rubbings, nature collages, and sketches inspired by the warm tones of the autumn forest.

In the winter, while the deer moved quietly through the trees and frost covered the ground, the class explored how the forest adapts for winter. They studied weather, erosion, and earth’s landscapes, and explored animal tracks on the paths of Woodhaven. They designed crafts from sticks and pinecones, and sculptures inspired by the quiet beauty of their natural surroundings.

In the spring, while the birds chirped above and water flowed down Bellevue Creek, the students watched as the forest became alive with growth. They studied water, matter, and energy, and explored the budding plants and pollinators of the forest. They created suncatchers, flower pressings, and watercolor landscapes inspired by the lively hues of the spring forest.

Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre has been a magical place of learning for these students, and they leave the year with a deeper connection to nature, dusty hands and smiling faces.

The images below show the students at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre and some of the project they created while on site.