“Wonderful facilitation, good company, great subject.” – 2013 participant “I have really benefitted from learning something about Aboriginal history and customs.” – 2013 participant
“Above and beyond my expectations.” – 2013 participant
“I especially enjoyed Judy’s total comfort with what she does. It is so obvious to me that she uses the plants all the time.” – 2012 participant
“I liked the practical elements- seeing actual plants, sampling some remedies, making some remedies.” – 2012 participant
“Especially enjoyable was the planting of the medicine path and learning about Mi’kmaq traditions.” – 2012 participant
Our land is our medicine. Walk through the woods and fields gathering medicinal plants and making preparations. Collecting and using plant medicine is part of Aboriginal practice, teachings and history – using the medicines of the land, you will have an opportunity to share in ceremony, culture and learn about traditional Mi’kmaq practices. You will have an opportunity to create your own medicine pouch, make healing tinctures, and follow the remedies that have been passed on through the generations.
Please Note: The program costs covers the leaders travel, honorarium, accommodations and meals, plus your accommodations, three meals and three snacks per day and a nominal registration fee. We believe that cross cultural experiences can promote much needed right relations between peoples – and work to ensure we do not exploit Indigenous culture or knowledge. The Tatamagouche Centre does not make a profit from this program.
Program Cost: $395 ($240 tuition+$155 meals/accommodations)
Local Price: $300 (program cost without overnight, without breakfast)
Please register at least 2 weeks in advance to secure your place in this program
Leadership
Judy Googoo
Judy Googoo never visited a hospital while growing up in Baddeck and Wagmatcook. All her medicines were prepared by her mother and grandmother and passed on over time. Judy is an Elder who has been studying and cataloguing medicines from this region infusing her own experiences and practices with traditional knowledge.
Judy is also an artist and makes jewelry which she sells at her log cabin shop on the reserve. She owns a variety of businesses and raises a wide assortment of animals including love birds, turkeys, goats and horses in her home in Wagmatcook.
Judy is also a Program Resource Group (PRG) facilitator at Tatamagouche Centre.
Trudy Watts
Trudy Watts, Program Resource Group (PRG) facilitator, is an avid gardener and herbalist. She attended the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine in 1999, and continues to learn from local teachers and personal experience. Tatamagouche Centre’s Living Traditions Herb Garden, started by Trudy in 2006, expresses her interest in honouring cultural knowledge of medicinal plants. Trudy has been active in peace and friendship initiatives including the Observer Project (Esgenoopetitj, NB treaty fishery) and the Pictou County Watershed Coalition (Boat Harbour, NS).