Sacred-Sites International Blog

Someone in Berkeley recently told us about a local church that wants to build a Native American Healing Garden as part of their sacred space. The project seems to be based on the idea that all Native America culture is the same and that all Native American communities regard the same plants as having healing properties. Perhaps the design of this garden will incorporate Native American sacred symbols and forms?

This project makes many assumptions that are not based on fact. Each Native American Nation and Tribe is unique, having their own identity based on centuries of oral history, based on the environments in which they live and based on their sacred ceremonies, spaces and symbols. Taking these elements out of their cultural context leaves them devoid of their fundamental meaning. Native Americans from one tribe usually do not consider using the sacred plants of another tribe to perform their ceremonies; so why do Christians believe that it is appropriate to do so?

We have spoken over the years with many Native Americans who consider cultural appropriation disrespectful and deeply hurtful. Why not design a healing garden based on western forms and western healing plants? There are many sacred forms such as the labyrinth that could form the basis of such a garden and endless choices of healing plants historically used in Western Culture.

Recommended resources: Sacred Objects and Sacred Places: Preserving Tribal Traditions by Andrew Gulliford (a benefit of Membership in Sacred Sacred International at the $50 level). We also recommend the excellent book by architect and Sacred Sites Board Member, Tony Lawlor, The Temple in the House.