Julien St-Jean
Mansfield et Pontefract July 09, 2021
The Pontiac Anishinaabe Healing Garden in Mansfield et Pontefract is expected to open August 1, says Chief Richer Levesque.
The garden, which received a $38,500 grant from the federal government, has been under construction since last November. Levesque hopes the garden will serve as a quiet area for members of the community to gather and relax or talk about their problems.
“It will provide a therapeutic sanctuary, cultural contemplative gardens, natural and healing plants,” said Madeleine Herault in a private message to The Equity.
“It’s a beautiful garden,” said Levesque. “You can sit down with friends and relax. It’s in the fresh air, so it’s better.”
The garden has a pergola, a teepee and trees, as well as carvings of a bear, a turtle and an eagle.
According to Levesque, the garden has received many donations from community members. A GoFundMe to “plant traditional ceremonial and medicinal trees and shrubs” raised over $2,000. Levesque says many community members have even donated plants, which have been planted in the garden.
An orange shirt that reads, “every child matters” is hung from the pergola.
“We were proud to do it to honour the residential school survivors,” said Levesque. “Some people put flowers specifically for them.”
Levesque stressed that the garden is open to everyone.
“It should be known that this is something that will be available and accessible to everyone, and we mean everyone,” said Herault. “It doesn’t matter from which corner of the world you come from, everyone is welcome to come to meditate, think and heal or to come and just enjoy the garden.”
