The Hiýáḿ Project

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Honouring National Indigenous People’s Day and National Indigenous History Month

The Hiýáḿ Project is a collaboration with Sḵwálwen Botanicals that brings native seeds to Indigenous communities. Hiýáḿ is a Squamish word that was chosen by Leigh Joseph of Sḵwálwen Botanicals and translates to ‘return home.' She chose this name to signify what it means to welcome Indigenous plants onto the land and the ways that Leigh describes "plants can lead us home, to ourselves, to the land, and our families".

Launched in 2021, the Hiýáḿ Project’s first iteration featured Coastal Mugwort seed packets distributed to Sḵwálwen customers in tandem with donations to the BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), Scia'new (Beecher Bay), and W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip) communities on southern Vancouver Island.

On June 21st, 2022 (National Indigenous People’s Day), we are launching the project’s Stinging Nettle (ts'exts'ix in Squamish and ȾEXȾEX in SENĆOŦEN) seed collaboration, with seed packets featuring artwork by W̱SÁNEĆ Nation artist Sarah Jim of W̱SIKEM (Tseycum).

In honor of National Indigenous People’s Day and National Indigenous History Month, we're donating a package to a partnering Indigenous community, individual, or organization for every purchase of a Stinging Nettle seed package. Purchase your Stinging Nettle seed packet here.

To learn more visit Hiýáḿ Project – Skwalwen Botanicals.

Please consider joining our upcoming webinar with Sḵwálwen Botanicals to support this work.

Dominque James shares some of her knowledge of Stinging Nettle here.

Did you know some local butterflies rely on Stinging Nettle? Butterflies lay their eggs on nettle leaves throughout the spring and summer. When the eggs hatch, the young caterpillars eat the leaves, and then form a chrysalis to mature into adult butterflies. Milbert's Tortoiseshell, Satyr Anglewing, and Red Admiral caterpillars rely on Stinging Nettle exclusively. It’s also an important plant for Westcoast Lady and Painted Lady.

A Satyr Anglewing caterpillar and adult; one of our local butterflies that rely on Stinging Nettle. Satyr Anglewing folds the nettle leaf into a characteristic shape and then eats from the tip up, turning the leaf into a little box. Satyr Anglewing, caterpillars rely on Stinging Nettle exclusively.