Homegrown Climate Justice

In the summer of 2022, the UBC Indigenous Strategic Initiative Fund approved the Homegrown Climate Justice: Building Climate Resiliency Through Community project (with additional funding from the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions) with the overarching goal of acting on the climate emergency by partnering with the Downtown Eastside community to enhance existing and create new greenspaces in the community informed and led by Indigenous worldviews and practices.

In partnership with the UBC Sustainability Hub | Climate Emergency Response, UBC Climate Hub, UBC Learning Exchange, and the Carnegie Community Centre, we have built relationships with the Downtown Eastside community to guide this project. By combining resources and working together we can better achieve our common goal of making greenspaces more accessible to everyone, by the people for the people.

Image credit: Mieszko9

Cows Parsnip

Cows parsnip is native to North America but can often be mistaken for other invasive plant species such as Giant Hogweed (a poisonous exotic). In Indigenous communities, a common challenge is the popular removal of this plant as it’s mistakenly identified as a weed by those who mean well. It is non-toxic though the juice from this plant can cause dermatitis for those with sensitive skin (gloves recommended). It has been used by Indigenous peoples by eating the inside stem and boiling the roots to extract the sugar for flavoring. Drying the roots and crushing them into powder is also common practice to heal skin irritations, and the seeds can be boiled into tea for headache remedies. Cows parsnip grows best in moist, shadier locations but can also thrive in open dryer areas. It prefers sand or sandy loam soil.

Image credit: Sadie Youngstrom

Chocolate Lily

Chocolate lily is a native plant species. This plant species has been dug up by Indigenous peoples and the roots boiled to soften their taste. The taste and texture have been described as rice with a slightly bitter taste. The species is easily transplanted and grows from seeds and/or bulbs.

Image credit: Köhler’s Medicinal Plants

Western Yarrow

Western yarrow is a native wildflower species and in nature is eaten by most ungulates (large mammals with hooves). The seeds from this plant have historically been removed and dried by Indigenous peoples to create tea for stomach ailments. The plant is also used for wound poultices and as a mosquito repellant. It often grows around roads or other disturbed sites. This flower is great for pollinators.

Image credit: Ramin Nakisa

Pacific Bleeding Heart

This native wildflower species is good for attracting pollinators. It has historically been used by First Nations to make tinctures for bruises and sprains. It has also been recorded that the root has properties that help with anxiety and insomnia. It should be noted that all parts of the plant, except the root, are toxic and can cause skin irritations if not handled properly. This flower is repellent to grazers such as rabbits and deer.

Image credit: NetPS Plant Finder

Nodding Onion

Native to so-called British Columbia, nodding onion grows as a leafless stalk from bulbs which eventually produces an umbel of pink or white flowers. The leaves and bulbs of this plant are edible with a light onion-like flavour. Fun fact: the City of Chicago got its name from the Algonquin name of this plant ‘chigagou’. This plant is used by First Nations as a bug repellant; the juices from the plant are spread on the skin to repel mosquitoes and other insects.