sayuyay Sister Garden

The East Bed

This bed contains plants related to First Aid, as well as the Musculo-skeletal (our muscles and bones) and Respiratory Systems (lungs, esophogus, nose, mouth). Dada?sH3d ti x3'lt3b or plantain (Plantago spp.), are useful for the minor cuts, bruses and bites of everyday life. Meadow arnica (Arnica chamissonis), can help with inflammation, pain and injury to muscles and bones. TliQalay or gumweed (Grindelia spp.), can assist with coughs, colds and other respitratory ailments, supporting our ability to breath fully.

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Plants in the South Bed

THe plants of the South bed are useful for the Cardiovascular, Immune, Reproductive, and Urnary Systems. Garlic (Allium stavia), helps to maintain a healthy circulation. Echinacea (Echinacea spp.), strenghtens the body's defenses against sickness. Motherwort (Leonorus cardiaca) can bring the menstrual cycle into balance. Kinnikinnik (Artostaphylos uva-ursi) or sKiwad, can help alleviate and heal urinary tract infections.

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Plants in the West Bed

The West bed contains plants useful for the Digestive and Endocrine Systems. The Digestive System plants help support digestion, which is central to being well since we must absorb and utilize nutrients from the food we eat to remain healthy and full of energy. These include plants such as chuyu'xWilasi or tal-bush Oregon grape and skookum xi or coastal mugwort (Artemisia suksdorfii). Plants such as ya'yaX3bi or Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum), can help balance blood sugar.

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Plants in the North Bed

THE NORTH BED

This bed contains plants useful for the Nervous System, our body system which is responsible for gathering information,  as well regulating and controlling homeostasis. The brain, spinal cord, and nerves are the principle organs of this system. Many of the plants in this bed can help promote relaxation without ill effect. One example would be sipping catnip tea (Nepeta cataria) to release tension after a long day.

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The sayuyay Garden Plants & Beds

 Sayuyay Garden is a space and an idea originated by Marja Eloheimo, a professor at The Evergreen State College, and Bruce subiyay Miller of the Skokomish Indian Tribe. The garden is composed of four raised beds affiliated with different body systems and other structured beds which are a part of a larger ethnobotanical garden representative of different ecosystems in the Puget Sound.

The garden has been in creation since 1996. Hundreds of people from Evergreen, Skokomish, and other interconnected communities have spent hours contributing to the garden: it is a constant state of becoming that will always need others to continue its existence. Sayuyay has the potential to educate us by transforming our relationships with plants, animals, the earth, our languages and each other.

Sayuyay's sister garden is currently being planned and created at the Longhouse gardens at The Evergreen State College.

We are honoured to have been enveloped by the garden's story; we are honoured to be a part of the garden's story and we look forward to the unfolding of both past and future stories.

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Introduction

SAYUYAY SISTER GARDEN INRODUCTION

The word sayuyay means, "medicine of the plant people" in the Twana language of the Skokomish Indian Nation.  
In the year 2000 the original sayuyay Garden was built on the Skokomish Reservation.  The garden was intended to educate both the Skokomish community and the Evergreen State College community about medicinal plants both native to the northwest and those introduced from other regions.
The garden is built in a raised bed formation, with four main beds facing each of the four directions.  Each bed contains plants that are useful for specific body systems.  In the center are four benches facing inward, meant to be a gathering place for reflection and sharing. At the very center of the garden  is a replica of a Western Red Cedar trunk that serves as a bed for ceremonial plants.
UNDERSTANDING THE TWO  SAYUYAY GARDENS
sayuyay garden:  This is the completed and original garden built on subiyay Bruce Miller's property on the Skokomish Reservation in Shelton, WA.
sayuyay sister garden: The sister garden has not been built yet.  It will be located on the Evergren State College Campus, and serve as a link between the original garden and TESC.  
Below is an excerpt written by Marja Eloheimo, adjunct faculty member of TESC and co-founder of the original sayuyay Garden:

History of the sayuyay Sister Garden 

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