Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ, the ethnobotanical garden at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), highlights the connections between past and present. SURF is indelibly linked to the history of the Homestake Mine, which operated from 1876 until 2001. While gold mining created wealth and jobs in the Black Hills for over a century, SURF has shifted the focus of the mine from profit to scientific discovery. Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ embodies the promise of a new, more equitable chapter of this story.
The ethnobotanical garden was developed from a recommendation of the SURF Cultural Advisory Committee. The vision included a place on SURF grounds to grow and learn about indigenous plants that could be shared with the community. Guided by the SURF Cultural Advisory Committee, the Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ Working Group, and Indigenous elders from the region, the garden demonstrates our capacity to collaborate with our communities, our employees, visitors, researchers, and other stakeholders. It is our effort to explore the connections between science, art, culture, and humanistic inquiry in the Black Hills.
Connecting community
Healing takes time. The tensions that shape this place emerged over many decades. Resolving them will take patience and the careful cultivation of purposeful relationships intended for the good of humanity. Every species that flourishes in Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ began with the planting of a seed. The garden is a seed of another kind. It is a commitment to fostering a spirit of respect and reciprocity over time. Deep roots of unity and mutual respect will anchor our work going forward.
The ethnobotanical garden embodies our interest in being a good neighbor and caretaker to the surrounding areas. Although anchored in Indigenous history and experience, the garden is not exclusively a space for those communities or conversations. Rather, we envision the garden as a space where everyone feels welcome. It will serve as a location that helps break down barriers by building trust and creating space for collaboration.
