Traditional Indigenous plants hidden in plain sight at CFB Edmonton

September 23, 2025 - 2Lt Brady Potter, CFB Edmonton Public Affairs

It was a warm late‑summer day at CFB Edmonton. Defence Team Members work hard in their offices and bursts of gunshots can be heard outside. Everything is just as anyone would expect on an army base. In between the usual army life, a small group embarked on a journey across the base to explore the historical and cultural roots of local plants, hidden in plain sight.

On September 8, members of the CFB Edmonton DIAG and the Base Environment Office embarked on a guided nature walk across the base to learn more about the significance of indigenous and invasive plants that impacted traditional Indigenous culture and medicine.

Melissa Shupenia, 3^rd Canadian Division Headquarters Indigenous Co‑ordinator, attended the event. She found that the tour helped her reconnect with her cultural roots.

“The knowledge has been lost,” Shupenia said. “I see it with each of my cousins and everyone trying to learn their own path.”

Natasha Cheff, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Co‑ordinator for the Chief Professional Conduct and Culture, also attended the tour as a member of CFB Edmonton’s DIAG, and echoed Shupenia’s sentiments.

“I haven’t been able to learn these things from my family because the knowledge has been lost,” Cheff said. “It’s important for me to take advantage of these opportunities when they arise.”

For the tour, Base Environment summer student Ella Burch, took participants to the community garden, through walking trails at CFB Edmonton, and to the Strathcona Mounted Troop’s Saddle Club, to inform members about plants that have traditional significance to Indigenous peoples. Burch’s expertise on the subject matter gave participants new perspectives and insights into how the plants have been used historically by Indigenous peoples and how they continue to be used today.

While walking across CFB Edmonton, many of these plants can be spotted if someone is looking. For example, the wild rose, which was used by Indigenous peoples for the medicinal properties of rosehips, can be found on the walking trails near the community garden. Tansy, which was originally introduced from Europe and became naturalised in Canada, grows at the Saddle Club. Despite the Tansy’s toxicity, it was still used by Indigenous cultures in small doses to treat for worms, swelling, infections, and on wounds. Tansy was also used as insect repellant due to its strong smell.