Teachings of the Heart Berry and the Summer Flowers

Each summer, as Banff Sunshine Meadows transforms into a vibrant tapestry of color, the alpine blossoms do more than brighten our Island in the Sky. For many Indigenous Nations, these flowers are living teachers. Each carries a lesson—about love, resilience, renewal, and connection—inviting us to see the landscape with fresh eyes and deeper gratitude.

Ode’min – The Heart Berry

In Anishinaabe teachings, the strawberry is called ode’min, or “heart berry.” Its heart-shaped fruit symbolizes love, forgiveness, and compassion. The way its runners stretch and connect plant to plant mirrors the bonds that tie communities and families together. Many Nations hold a Strawberry Ceremony in early summer, honoring the berry as a medicine of healing and reconciliation. As the first fruit of the season, it reminds us to walk with kindness and lead with the heart.

Wild Rose – Beauty and Strength

Scattered throughout Banff Sunshine Meadows, the wild rose—Alberta’s provincial flower—is more than a delicate bloom. For Cree and Blackfoot peoples, it serves as both medicine and teacher. The rose’s petals are used for teas and baths to calm the body, while its thorns remind us that beauty and strength go hand in hand. In its softness and protection, the rose encourages balance and resilience.

Yarrow – Protection and Community

The feathery clusters of yarrow, found throughout the alpine meadows, are steeped in Indigenous plant knowledge. Traditionally used by the Blackfoot and other Nations as a medicine for wounds, fevers, and cleansing, yarrow is seen as a plant of protection. Its many small flowers gathered together on a single stem speak to unity—strength is found when we come together as one.

Sage and Sweetgrass – Sacred Summer Gathering

While not always abundant on alpine ridges, sage and sweetgrass are often gathered during the summer months. These sacred plants play central roles in ceremony and healing. Sweetgrass, braided like hair, teaches the importance of kindness and unity—its strands strongest when woven together. Sage offers cleansing and clarity, clearing away negativity so that the heart may remain open. Both remind us that summer is a time to renew our spirits and strengthen our connections to the land.

Fireweed – Renewal After Hardship

When avalanches or fires disturb the landscape, fireweed is often the first to return, painting slopes in brilliant pink. For many Indigenous communities, fireweed is a symbol of renewal and resilience. It teaches us that beauty can emerge from hardship, and that every ending carries the seed of a new beginning.

Walking in the Meadows With Gratitude

To hike through Banff Sunshine Meadows in bloom is to step into a living story. The heart berry speaks of love and forgiveness. The rose offers balance. Yarrow teaches protection and unity. Sage and sweetgrass cleanse and connect. Fireweed reminds us of renewal.

Together, these summer flowers transform Banff Sunshine Meadows into more than a wildflower wonderland—they create a classroom within the land itself. By pausing to notice their colors and scents, we can also listen to their teachings. Here, in our alpine paradise above the clouds, each blossom reminds us to walk gently, love deeply, and live in balance with the world around us.