T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss: x̱aw̓s shew̓áy̓ New Growth 新生林

T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss: x̱aw̓s shew̓áy̓ New Growth 新生林

Contributor

June 2018 – August 2019

T’uy’tanat Cease Wyss is a media artist and ethnobotanist. Her Fellowship with 221A will lead a transformation of Semi­-Public 半公開 at 271 Union Street, converting the site’s compacted road base gravel to a communal garden designed with permaculture systems and plants that are indigenous to the bioregion of the Pacific Northwest Coast and the unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Stó:lō Nations.

Traditional Practices & Permaculture

Wyss is a member of an Indigenous Matriarch collective who are redeveloping their traditional practices for stewarding the land and ecosystem of this territory, and restoring the health of flora and fauna which used to be prolific here.

Permaculture is a design process that simulates the methods and resilient patterns of ecosystems. The larger principles of permaculture, centered around whole systems thinking, have varied and vastly diverse applications from land management and farming, to organizational and social design processes.

During her Fellowship, Wyss researches traditional plant knowledge and maintenance systems to be implemented at the public art site in a three-year land remediation process. Together with a cohort of Indigenous-­identified youth leaders, Wyss’ stewardship of the grounds will produce a space for the public to reflect upon the responsibilities, tensions, and joys of shared life on these unceded territories. Wyss will also develop an active research collection at Pollyanna 圖書館 Library, which will include an open seed archive along with books and ephemera.

Components

  • Permaculture design process with indigenous plant life
  • Cob Oven and communal bench
  • Youth Mentorship Program
  • Production workshops with maker groups
  • Welcoming Ceremony and Youth Led Public Programs
  • Artist Talks and Storytelling
  • Active Keyholders program for multi-purpose use of the facility

Project Support

Supported by the Vancouver Foundation, the City of Vancouver, and Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

City of VancouverVancouver Foundation