![Plants in this garden share one thing in common: A PROBLEMATIC PAST](https://cdn.magzter.com/1704825715/1719121926/articles/YQdMpugGb1719141376930/PLANTS-IN-THIS-GARDEN-SHARE-ONE-THING-IN-COMMON-A-PROBLEMATIC-PAST.jpg)
At first glance, the plants don’t appear to have much in common, but small green signs poking out of the soil next to each plant tell the deeper story behind what they all share: a troubling past.
The garden is part of “Botannica Tirannica,” a new exhibit at Koffler Arts located inside Artscape Youngplace at 180 Shaw St., which examines the plants and plant names that have perpetuated and symbolized social prejudices against marginalized groups through a multimedia exhibit with hybrid images of plants created through the use of AI.
Award-winning Brazilian artist Giselle Beiguelman, who created this exhibit, worked alongside Isaac Crosby, a local Black and Ojibwa agricultural expert and knowledge keeper, to include a Canadian colonial context.
Crosby is known for his work revitalizing Indigenous traditional practices like phytoremediation — using plants to clean up contaminated environments — and mentoring Indigenous students through gardening projects across the city.
\Among those, he is the lead Indigenous gardener at Evergreen Brickworks, where he has worked to create Indigenous cultural and green spaces in the once industrialized area.
The garden puts the plants’ problematic names, scientific names and their original Indigenous names on display, such as dieffenbachia, called “dumb cane,” which was used by plantation owners to torture enslaved people, as it makes the mouth swell when eaten. Crosby hopes learning about this history will encourage people to begin using the plant’s traditional Indigenous names, a step, he says, toward revitalizing Indigenous languages and culture.
He took a break from gardening to speak to the Star about his garden and the exhibit, which runs until Oct. 20.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 23, 2024 من Toronto Star.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 23, 2024 من Toronto Star.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Marsch's goal is more goals
Canada shows rapid progress under coach, faces Venezuela in quarters
'They should have at least communicated'
Passengers say they felt abandoned by WestJet following flight cancellations
![Is it the 'Wild West approach to planning"?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1755918/kP4vJeL4P1720183146191/IS-IT-THE-WILD-WEST-APPROACH-TO-PLANNING.jpg)
Is it the 'Wild West approach to planning"?
Caledon rezones land for development despite local, provincial concerns
Strike to close LCBO stores
Talks break down as union cites fears over job security amid retail overhaul
![BRITAIN'S BIG SWING](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1755918/kz8QPJnEj1720182924900/BRITAINS-BIG-SWING.jpg)
BRITAIN'S BIG SWING
Labour poised for landslide as voters oust Tories after 14 years in power
![The immortality of vampire films](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1754785/03dgT_GRe1720088028586/THE-IMMORTALITY-OF-VAMPIRE-FILMS.jpg)
The immortality of vampire films
Anew Canadian entry puts an idiosyncratic spin on the mythology of the undead
![WHAT directors WEAR](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1754785/y8aWcG8js1720087871307/WHAT-DIRECTORS-WEAR.jpg)
WHAT directors WEAR
In a new book from A24, the elements of auteur style get a close-up
![Life and death and robots](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1754785/j8ooIVTPQ1720087675610/LIFE-AND-DEATH-AND-ROBOTS.jpg)
Life and death and robots
Rashida Jones dives into grief, loneliness and living with AI in Sunny’
![Argentina loaded without Messi](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1754785/R4gWBVb7a1720087555916/ARGENTINA-LOADED-WITHOUT-MESSI.jpg)
Argentina loaded without Messi
Superstar will be game-time decision against Ecuador in the quarterfinals
![Ejim is a leader but no lock](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1754785/Z8tsG2SWN1720087490580/EJIM-IS-A-LEADER-BUT-NO-LOCK.jpg)
Ejim is a leader but no lock
As Canada pares camp roster, seven contenders remain for three jobs