Seeds of Memory

Seeds of Memory

Seeds of Memory is an ongoing art garden project that explores memories of gardens and places of nurturance.

Seeds of Memory exists physically in the gardens we create together and creatively in our imagination, shared memories and art creations. Past artworks have included plays for children, collective fabric book projects, musical composition and choir performances.  

This year, Seeds of Memory will be further explored through participatory project engaging senior tenants at Pelham Park Gardens TCHC in the design, planting and initiation of a Memorial Native Plant Garden on their building’s grounds. The garden development process will involve story sharing, art making, collective planning and design, educational tours, planting and a final celebration. At a time when the age and cultural demographics at Pelham Park are going through a considerable shift, this garden will act as a dedicated place where many tenants who no longer live at Pelham Park will be remembered and celebrated, along with the stories of their lives, relationships and impact on their community. Not only will participants be engaged in every part of the process, they will be a vital link as we share the stories of a community of people who lived together for many decades at Pelham Park Gardens.

Toronto is home to a large indigenous population including residential school survivors and intergenerational family members who have been impacted by the history and legacy of the residential school system. The sacred land on which we stand has been a site of human activity for 15,000 years. This land is the territory of the Huron-Wendat and Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. The territory was the subject of the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy and the Ojibwe and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. Today, the meeting place of Toronto is still the home to many indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work in the community, on this territory.