As the harvesting season approaches, here on the Traditional Territory of Tr’ondek Hwech’in in Dawson, Gu Nähtsey has started harvest outings. The groups that have accompanied us on the harvest outings are the Han cohorts and local youth from the Käjit-in Zho (house of youth). The Han cohorts and Dawson YSPOR went to Nänkäk Chèholay (Land of plenty). We visited the land for harvesting and found ourselves in knee-deep snow as we collected spruce pitch for the spring workshop. The youth at Käjit-in Zho and Gu Nähtsey start their regular harvest outing once school is out in June.
Spring and summer are an abundant time to harvest, Gu Nähtsey has started a small apothecary stockpile; the plants collected thus far can be used for future workshops. Plants collected for Gu Nähtsey apothecary stock are shared with the community. An example of how this is done, we have teamed with the Dawson Hospital and First Nation Health Program to provide a local herbal tea. The tea will be available on a tea table that is located in the Dawson Hospital visitors’ room. Local herbal teas, nettle leaf, dandelion leaf, fireweed leaf, and chaga chai are available. The individual tea bag/ package arrived at the hospital late spring, it will be providing locally picked tea to patients and visitors.
The harvest outings are open to the public, and we are teaming with Tr’ondek Hwech’in, Education Department, and also with Käjit-in Zho (house of youth/youth center) when suitable. Selected dates on the schedule are harvest trips that will include the Tombstone National Park, Moosehide, Nänkäk Chèholay, and the surrounding Dawson location, all on the traditional territory of the Tr’ondek Hwech’in. Harvest outings include teaching about harvesting protocols, plants, medicinal plants, and collection for the Gu Nähtsey apothecary.
In addition, another project that the Gu Nähtsey have been working on with the Dawson Hospital, in partnership with the Conservation Klondike Society, is a Permaculture Garden. This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada, for $65,000 to complete the project. The Garden will create green space for patients and the community; the cozy location is between Dawson Hospital and Alexander McDonald Lodge. This holistic garden approach will be a self-sustaining system, with raised garden beds that will include flowers, perennial berry bushes, herbs, and vegetables. This outdoor space for wellness will not only be a self-sustaining ecosystem, and provide habitat
for birds and insects, but also have signage, walkways, and benches. Strategic planning for additional discreet privacy for the patients and visitors. We are grateful that the Conservation Klondike Society, through Katie English and Derrick Hastings, made it possible to make this project achievable, and we are all looking forward to this creation, Mähsį’ cho.
The Gu Nähtsey group will host their summer workshop, which will be during the Reconnection camp at Nänkäk Chèholay. This camp is in collaboration with Tr’ondek Hwech’in Education Department, Ni’ehłyat Nidähjì (Our Families, Our Future), Käjit-in Zho, the Mental Health Hub Dawson, and Healthy Families, Healthy Babies (CPNP). As for Gu Nähtsey, the focus is on detoxing and cleansing. We have a workshop planned for detoxing, and harvesting for renewal, continuing with activities such as Art Therapy, Yoga, mindfulness activities, and more.