My community project was an Indigenous-led nature walk hosted in collaboration with Raven and Hummingbird Tea (Rh-tea) and Everett Crowley Park Committee (ECPC). With the help of ECPC, I was able to invite Rh-tea, an Indigenous-owned tea company with plentiful knowledge on native plants. This idea initially stemmed from wanting to learn more about Indigenous culture and values. I believed that with the nature walk, it would be a great way for both myself and the community to learn more about nature. Something that was challenging for me was organizing a time that would be accommodating to the most people. Since it was summer, I did not want to have it at a time when it was too hot. Through discussing this with both ECPC and RH-tea, I chose to do it for 5-7 pm on a weekday afternoon. Using the grant from Neighbourhood Small Grants, I was also able to supply ample refreshments to avoid dehydration and overheating. I think that we chose the timeframe that worked out well. The turnout was great, and people were able to join in after work. The walk itself went very smoothly. We were able to learn characteristics and medicinal uses for both native and introduced plants. We also learned about intricate connections between native plants and animals. Something I learned while planning this event was the importance of communication. Since this was a collaborative event, making sure everyone was on the same page was incredibly important. Making sure big details, such as time and location, as well as smaller details, such as beverage types, were all important in ensuring that the event ran smoothly. Overall, this was a great experience, and I am very thankful for Neighbourhood Small Grants for providing me with funding and making my idea come to life. Being able to connect with nature, Indigenous culture, and my community was a fulfilling experience and I hope to continue planning events and engaging with my community.
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