Indigenous Herbalism Gathering
A One-Day Gathering with Smulthun, Thomas George Jr., and Candice Harris George
Join Thomas George Jr., and Candice Harris George for a one-day Indigenous herbalism gathering rooted in plant relationships, respectful harvesting, and connection to the lands and waters of this place.
This gathering is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and learn from plants through relationship rather than extraction.
Together, we’ll explore local medicines, Coast Salish teachings, hands-on preparations, and the responsibilities we carry when learning from the land.
Throughout the day, participants will be guided in working with local plants and medicines.
Alongside these hands-on preparations, Thomas and Candice will share teachings around plant relationships, respectful harvesting, reciprocity, habitat, identification, responsible gathering, and what knowledge should or should not be shared publicly.
Together, we'll make:
Devil’s club salve
Cedar essential oils
Sweetgrass room spray
Quxmeen seed tea (wild celery)
This is not a generic herbalism workshop. It is a place-based learning experience guided by Indigenous knowledge keepers, with an emphasis on respect, humility, reciprocity, and relationship.
About our Guides
Thomas and Candice are mentors with Culturally Committed providing mentorship and building meaningful relationships with non-Indigenous people. We’re honoured to have them sharing their knowledge and cultural wisdom.
Smulthun, Thomas George Jr.
Smulthun, Thomas George Jr., is a proud member of Halalt First Nation, with roots in Lyackson, Quw’utsun, Stz’uminus, West Saanich, Bella Bella, and Scottish ancestry. A Coast Salish cultural practitioner, Thomas began assisting his father with cultural work at the age of seventeen and continues to honour the teachings passed down through his family and community.
Thomas has worked extensively in cultural support, youth support, men’s wellness, and community healing. He has served as a Cultural Support Worker with Malahat First Nation, where he supported the sweat lodge and men’s group, and has also worked with the Tsow Tun Lelum Cultural Support Team.
He is proud to share his traditional name with his father and strives to live and work in a way that humbly honours his ancestors, his family, and the cultural teachings entrusted to him.
Candice Harris-George
E Wushqtunaat Sh-wunituma-lh
Stz’uminus First Nation
Candice George, E Wushqtunaat Sh-wunituma-lh, is from Stz’uminus First Nation. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a focus on Indigenous Language Revitalization through Stz’uminus Education and the University of Victoria.
Candice brings a deep connection to language, land, family, and cultural learning. Her presence in this gathering supports a grounded, place-based experience rooted in relationship, respect, and the continuation of Indigenous teachings.Over the course of the day, we’ll spend time learning about local plants and the relationships, responsibilities, and teachings connected to them.
Participants will be invited into conversations and hands-on learning around:
Plant relationships and learning from the land
Respectful harvesting and reciprocity
Local plant identification and habitat awareness
Responsible gathering practices
Household plant preparations
Aromatic plant medicines
Stories and teachings connected to forest plants
Cultural protocols and the importance of knowing what is appropriate to share
You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of local plants, handmade preparations to take home, and a more grounded relationship to the land beneath your feet.
What We’ll Explore
Who This Gathering Is For
This gathering is for those who feel called to learn about local plants in a respectful, grounded, and relationship-based way.
It may be for you if you are interested in:
Indigenous plant knowledge
Local herbalism and native plants
Respectful harvesting and reciprocity
Land-based learning
Hands-on plant preparations
Cultural humility and learning with care
Deepening your relationship with the place you live
No previous herbalism experience is required. Come with curiosity, openness, and respect.
A Note on Respect
This gathering is offered with care for the plants, the land, the facilitators, and the cultural knowledge being shared. Some teachings are meant to be shared widely, while others belong within family, community, ceremony, or specific cultural protocols.
Participants are invited to come with humility, to listen more than they take, and to honour the boundaries around what is appropriate to carry forward.