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Seed Stories

 

Seed Stories is a video series that centres Indigenous voices and celebrates the deep relationships between people, plants, and place. Through heartfelt conversations with Indigenous Knowledge Holders, Seed Stories share teachings about favourite plants and flowers, cultural meaning, and the care, responsibility, and respect they carry across generations. These conversations inspired the creation of seed packets showcasing the seeds of each Knowledge Holders favorite plants and flowers and an invitation to all Calgarians to carry these stories forward through planting, learning, and connection with each other and the land.

 

Seed Stories are a part of The City of Calgary Plant Project, a broader journey toward reconciliation, restoration, and re‑storying our connections to place from the ground up. Guided by Indigenous Knowledge and ongoing collaboration, The City prioritizes building meaningful relationships, fostering trust, and respectfully incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into project planning and delivery. Knowledge Holders worked closely with The City  through site visits and working sessions to identify culturally significant plant species and planting protocols that can be used to re-store and re-story the land.

 

We are honoured to gather and share this knowledge that is rooted in lived experience and cultural continuity to help deepen understanding of the land we all share. Watch the videos below to learn more about the significance of native plants, and the invaluable knowledge guiding the Green Line Plant Project.

Learn more:

 

We are honoured to gather and share this knowledge that is rooted in lived experience and cultural continuity to help deepen understanding of the land we all share. Watch the videos below to learn more about the significance of native plants, and the invaluable knowledge guiding our work.

 

Learn more:

 

Knowledge Holders

Shirlee Crow Shoe

Piikani Nation 
(Blackfoot Confederacy Nations)

Berna-Dean Gaudry Holland

Métis Nation

Clifford Crane Bear

Siksika Nation
(Blackfoot Confederacy Nations)

Seed Sowing Instructions

While it seems like there are only a few seeds in seed package, the seeds are  very small (tiny actually!). Each pack contains over 40 seeds, enough to grow more than 40 plants! Please be careful when opening and planting to make sure you remove all of the seeds from the package!
 
  1. Gently firm clean growing medium down in container
  2. Spread seeds evenly over top
  3. "Rake" seeds into the top 1/8 inch (3mm) of medium or surface sow small seeds (sand-grain-sized or smaller)
  4. Gently pat down the medium
  5. Water seeds in
  6. Keep moist for good germination

Stratification

Break seed dormancy by keeping moistened seeds in fridge. Put seeds in clean sand or growing medium. Alternatively sow outside in the fall or spring.

Scarification

Abrade seed coat with sandpaper or use hot water to allow water to penetrate the embryo and trigger germination.

Seeds provided by 
Naapi’s Garden & ALCLA.

Funded by