They’ve actually planted a tundra smack in the middle of Montréal, QC. A peat bog, too. Along with a Laurentian maple forest complete with a stream and pond, they are mini versions of some of the ecosystems that were home turf of the Algonquin, Inuit and Iroquois. They also demonstrate the close bonds Amerindians and Inuit have always had with the plant world—and they’re part of the First Nations Garden of the Montréal Botanical Garden.
 
Stroll the forest trails with Innu, Huron-Wendat, Algonquin or Abenaki folks as guides, and you’ll get a glimpse into the relationship these original ecologists had with their land; how they practiced an environmentally sustainable gathering of berries, herbs and medicinal plants. They’ll show you how they morphed trees into canoes and branches into shelters, and 101 things to do with birch bark, including making duck decoys. There’s even a toxic plant garden—poison ivy and other nasties—which is handy to know when living in the woods.
 
The epicentre is the airy, contemporary Garden Pavilion built into the natural environment, slightly bending to avoid trees, curved to accommodate a stream. Inside, there’s a permanent exhibition of contemporary First Nations life and a gift shop selling Native arts and crafts. It’s also a cultural centre, with demonstrations: snowshoe making, weaving, basket making and plant-related storytelling. Check the calendar; some groups even gather to celebrate the solstice or other events in the garden.

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