VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT
Vision:
Listen garden is a contemplative space dedicated to a profound reconnection with the land to promote the reflection necessary for the ongoing process of (re) conciliation.
Mission statement:
By providing a special place where visitors will learn how the first peoples have shared their home with unselfish hearts, we each can learn from Indigenous teaching to open our hearts and minds to be in good relationship with this place and with one another. Through the engagement of the senses encouraged by the native plant and animal life present in the garden, along with story, art, music, and ceremony all our children, who are pure of heart, can learn from the land and from the first peoples of this land, and lead us into the future in a good way.
PROJECT GOVERNANCE
The “Listen” Garden is a joint initiative between Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society, The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park, and an Elder Council consisting of 3 Kainai Elders. The project will utilize the knowledge of the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society for their expertise in ecology and conservation, as well as their educational programs, youth nature programs, and the “good grief” program, which helps people who are grieving find healing in nature.
The Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society and The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society both have long track records of providing sustainable impactful programs in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Land Disposition and Existing and long-term operating agreements will be used to develop an operating process on the iiststii’ik garden, and the not-for-profit Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park will be the disposition holder. Support for iiststii’ik will come from the Bow Valley Ranche historical Society and the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park’s combined and considerable volunteer base. This volunteer support along with the significant ability of both organizations to raise substantial funds will ensure the garden’s sustainability.
As the not-for-profit Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society and iiststii’ik garden President and CEO, Larry Wasyliw will lead the Executive Team and the creation of the iiststii’ik Board consisting of members from Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society, Alberta Environment and Parks, and others to insure a strong sustainable future for the project.
The iiststii’ik (Listen) Garden is supported by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s ‘Seeds of Change’ initiative and will be the inaugural resilience and reconciliation, Indigenous healing garden of Canada.