kamâmak nihtâwikihcikan ᑲᒫᒪᐠ ᓂᐦᑖᐃᐧᑭᐦᒋᑲᐣ
In collaboration with Finding Flowers Project
Summer 2022- present (2025)
10146 96 Street, Edmonton AB (north of Ociciwan - 10124 96 Street)
Image courtesy of Adam Waldron Blain
Inspired by the work of the late Mi’kmaq artist Mike MacDonald’s, Butterfly and Medicine Gardens, kamâmak nihtâwikihcikan is composed of plants indigenous to the Americas. These Indigenous plants attract and sustain pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, and can often be seen as traditional medicines used by Indigenous people.
In collaboration with Finding Flowers Project, Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective explores and expands on Mike MacDonald’s work; building a new garden in the downtown core of amiskwacîwâskahikan. Like Mike MacDonald’s gardens this space is an invitation to co-exist, centering reflection, interaction and care with medicine plants.
Finding Flowers Project is an interdisciplinary research project that integrates art, ecology and education. Inspired by the work of the late Mi’kmaq artist Mike MacDonald, Finding Flowers grows, revitalizes and cares for native pollinator gardens as art installations, and as spaces for community contemplation and knowledge co-production.
Finding Flowers research team is housed in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC), at York University, and is led by Anishinaabe curator, artist and EUC Assistant Professor Lisa Myers and Conservation Biologist and Assistant Professor Dr. Sheila Colla as Principal Investigators; and artist and educator Dana Prieto as Research Associate. Findingflowers.ca
Original garden design by Tiffany Shaw
In 2023 we assembled plywood and cinderblock planters, replacing the hay planters. This was done for garden upkeep!
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We begin working on the garden again May 24, 2025!
Garden Hours: Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Cost: Free
kamâmak nihtâwikihcikan is entering its fifth summer at Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre! Thank you to our community members and neighbours for giving us advice each year, for helping us water and weed, and for making sure plants and pollinators are cared for when our team isn’t around. The garden space is open to all for visiting, gathering, and reflecting. If you want to help with the garden, please email info@ociciwan.ca
Accessibility notes: Garden entrance measures 4’ wide. Chainlink on the South and East sides of the garden has been taken down from the fence by staff to ensure multiple entry and exit points. A metal bar remains at 6’ height along the entire outer perimeter of the garden, please be cautious of hitting your head. There are no steps in the garden, but the ground is uneven. 6’ of access between planter paths. There is currently no seating or shade in the space. There’s no access to washrooms outside of event hours. The garden is open 24/7 to the public.
Transit: ETS stops at 96 Street and Jasper Avenue 1 minute walking distance (Routes 2, 5, 111, 131), 95 Street and Jasper Avenue 5 minutes walking distance (Routes 1), 100 Street and Jasper Avenue 10 minutes walking distance (Central Station, routes 8, 130X, 150X, 201).
LRT Valley Line is a 1 minute walking distance (Quarters Station)
Street parking: 96 Street, Rate: Free parking, Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday to Saturday; 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sundays
Street parking: 101A Avenue, Rate: $2.00 / HR Monday to Friday; $1.00 / HR Saturday and Sunday, Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday to Saturday; 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sundays
Paid impark lots available down 101A Ave
We acknowledge the support of Canada Council for the Arts
Big thanks to 88 Fooks for use of the space for our garden.
Special thanks to Salisbury at Enjoy, Boyle Street Community League and our neighbours.