The Garden of Healing display celebrates the boundless healing potential of nature in all its forms.
We find nourishment, clean air, and shelter in the gardens we tend to. This exhibit uses a blend of medicinal and sacred plants arranged in a contemporary floral installation, to provide an immersive experience of personal healing and connection to the land.
Surrounded by flower beds of seasonally blooming Manitoba species, this installation features a dynamic collection of herbs, branches, flowers, and shrubs, each selected for their unique healing properties and cultural significance. Watch as the installation evolves, transitioning from fresh to dried florals.
The Garden of Healing was imagined by Indigenous designers Carmen Grey and Mamie Griffith, along with Wade Meisner, Horticulture Curator here at Assiniboine Park. This project honours the resilience and strength of Indigenous peoples, acknowledging the impacts of colonialism in Canada and the ongoing journey of healing from historical injustices.
Learn more about the plants featured in this display:
Tobacco | Asemaa | Ts’élt’úi
Tobacco holds a central place in many indigenous cultures as the first medicine and a sacred gift from the Creator. It is a powerful tool for connecting with the Spirit World and is used in ceremonies, rituals, and prayers. In traditional smudging ceremonies, tobacco is sometimes included alongside or in place of sage or sweetgrass. When burned, tobacco smoke is believed to carry prayers and offerings to the Creator, acting as a conduit for communication with the spiritual realm. Tobacco is also used as an offering to express gratitude, seek guidance, or ask for help from spiritual beings or ancestors. It symbolizes respect, reverence, and reciprocity in relationships with spirituality and the natural world.
Sweet Grass | Wiingaashk | TÅ’oghets’én
Sweetgrass is associated with cleansing and healing. Its sweet aroma purifies the mind, body, and spirit, promoting a sense of inner peace, harmony, and well-being. Beyond its cleansing properties, sweetgrass is regarded as a sacred offering to the Creator and a symbol of gratitude and humility. Burning sweetgrass is a way of expressing appreciation for the gifts of the natural world and honouring the interconnectedness of all living beings.
Sweetgrass braids are made up of 21 strands grouped in three clusters of seven. Each grouping has a special meaning, the strands represent family — the connection between the past seven and future seven generations, and the seven teachings (love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth).
Sage | Bashkodejiibik | TÅ’ogh tsené | paskwâwihkwaskwa
Sage is used for its cleansing and purifying properties, both physically and spiritually. It is often burned in smudging ceremonies to clear negative energy from a space, person, or object and create a sacred atmosphere. Beyond purification, sage offers clarity of mind and intention. Its smoke is believed to clear mental fog, confusion, and distractions, allowing you to focus your thoughts and intentions on prayer, meditation, or spiritual reflection. Sage is also used for praying on behalf of others or for collective well-being. In group ceremonies, sage smoke is shared to bless and uplift participants, fostering a sense of unity and interconnectedness in the community.
Cedar | Giizhik
Cedar is a symbol of strength, resilience, and spiritual protection. It is burned in ceremonies to cleanse and purify the environment, driving away negative influences and removing stagnant or harmful energy. Like sage and sweetgrass, cedar is also used for praying on behalf of others and for collective healing.
Visit the Garden of Healing until September 8 in the Babs Asper Display House at The Leaf!
