Day Two Cultural Session C2:
Meet at the C7istktn (pithouse behind the high school towards mountain)

Workshop Title:
Me7 Tcúsmete r Sk̓wen̓llq
ell r Meláme: Plant/Medicine Walk

Lisa Orton

Lisa Orton (Cstélen – Adams Lake) works in the Secwepemc Immersion Program at Chief Atahm School. She has contributed to the school in various roles, including curriculum development, teaching community language classes, post-secondary education, and an immersion classroom teaching assistant. Lisa enjoys exploring Secwepemc plant names and uses and traditional harvesting activities on the land.

Denise Sellars

Denise (Tsilkst) Sellars (Xats̓úll – Soda Creek) is a Language Resource Assistant at the Chief Atahm School, where she works alongside teachers and staff to ensure the children get a well rounded education based in the Secwepemc language . She holds a Secwepemc Language Proficiency Diploma from Simon Fraser University (SFU) and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Secwepemc Language Fluency at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO).

About the Workshop:

Join us for a guided plant identification walk designed to support educators in bringing language out onto the land. This workshop weaves together language and cultural teachings by offering practical ways to engage students with plants and their cultural significance. We will explore Secwepemc plant names, uses, and ethical harvesting practices. By visiting key plant sites and recognizing important cultural keystone species you will strengthen your observation skills and gain inspiration for incorporating language into cultural teachings and land-based education! Participants will do a nature-based art activity.