K’emk’em’elay

The place where the maples grow: the Hastings Folk Garden

This is a project of the inaugural Hastings Folk Garden Artist in Residence Program, coordinated and facilitated in collaboration by Hives for Humanity and by Artist in Residence, Gentle Geographies. Funding for this work was provided by: Enabling Accessibility Fund, TD Friends of the Environment, SFU Community Capacity Building, SFU Community Engagement, Embark Sustainability, Earthand Gleaners, 221a Artist Run Center, Artist Run Center Association (ARCA) and Tkaronto chapter of Architecture Lobby. This living map will be profiled on countermap.land as demonstration of our relationships of struggle and care.

We are working with people, plants and pollinators on the traditional, ancestral and unceded Coast Salish Territories – Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) and xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam) Nations. Learning from urban Indigenous and frontline communities that are actively working to slow down colonial systems, informing our practice of community care.

Ground Truthing Map

Take a moment to consider a place that you love. A place you are called to. What do you feel when you think of it?
Visit this place. Perhaps only in your mind. Pause here to listen.
What do you hear? Close your eyes.
What memories come to your mind and body? Speak them outloud.
Plant your seeds and return to watch them grow.

Welcome, to our “Ground Truth Map”

The being portrayed in this map represents the Hastings Folk Garden at 117 East Hastings and the places, satires and many lives we commemorate through story, shared culture and art.

Each Icon within the map has a story associated with it which you can listen to below. 

Map design by Keenan Marchand.

This is not an ordinary life. Garden of magic and madness by Horace “the Bear Whisperer” Daychief

Horace “the Bear Whisperer” Daychief recites a poem he wrote reflecting on a life living on East Hastings.

Street Mom with DJ Joe

DJ moves in her practice of care along East Hastings and to the Folk Garden, sharing what it means for her to be a street mom — someone who cares for the community living on the streets. 

Fireweed with Jim McLeod

A story and personal reflection by Jim on what the Fireweed plant has meant to him and the community of the garden.

Considering care in space and time with phin

Reflections, curiosities, and questions offered by phin, while he moves through the Hastings Folk Garden, Garden of Care.

Reality 101 by Theresa Delores Gray

Theresa recites a poem she wrote about connection to earth and the world around us.

Phase change by Cait of Gentle Geographies and Sarah of Time & Times

Considering change, durational care, protection of land, resistance of violence, Sarah and Cait breathe and walk into being through accordion and piano, the worlds they dream of emerging.