Indigenous-led project hopes to foster education and reconciliation in Wellington County

What started out as a request for a small plot of land to grow a medicine gardenhas now grown to aproject that aims to foster education and reconciliation with the community on Wellington County.

The countyhas dedicated two acres of land for the Indigenous Gathering Circle Project, a culturally safe space for the county's Indigenous community and allies.

The land is part ofWellington Place,an area made up of 77 hectares in Aboyne, between Fergus and Elora, that hosts several county services like Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health, New Groves Memorial Community Hospital and the Wellington County Museum and Archives.

"It's taken me completely by surprise, I didn't expect this," said Colleen Brunelle, a Fergus program manager in social services and a member of the county's Indigenous advisory committee.

"We haven't had a lot of space available for Indigenous peoples here in this county. Ourclosest friendship centre was in Kitchener-Waterloo. We're hoping that we're goingto be reclaiming some space here at the county."

Anopportunity for inclusion

Part of the project will be to restore the land to what it was before farming practices removedthe area's native plant species. The group plans togrow a medicine garden that include plants like tobacco, sweetgrass and sage.

The Indigenous Circle Project goes beyond restoring the land, Brunelle said. It fills a need for a spacethat Indigenous and community members have been asking for.

"This space is hopefully going to be able to provide that opportunity for inclusion," Brunelle said.

She and other committee members, along withthecounty,hope the communitywill use the space to gather, learn and heal.

"We're hoping to include everyone from youth in our children's early years programing to our seniors at a local seniors home that's on the property," she said.

Community info session planned

The project is still in its early stages. County staff are in the process of putting together a draft design for the space, which will also includestone seating and other elements.

Jana Burns, administrator for Wellington Place, said they're working with the committee to understand "what is important from their perspective."

"The first step is to provide this outdoor gathering space and then next year, it's building a pavilion where we can have a covered room forworkshops and for learning." Burns said.

An information session is scheduled for Monday afternoon, where community members will have an opportunityto learn more about the project, Burns said.

The project is expected to get underway this summer.