The Newah's Garden located in the middle of the Hays Community Garden took another step in meeting its caretaker's long term goal. The garden recently had five new cement benches placed around the garden inside the arbor to take another step in making it a sensual gathering spot. "The garden originally was established by Barb Cliff and summer youth helpers through the Nakoda Aaniiih Economic Development Corporation two summers ago," said MSU-Extension, Fort Belknap agent Liz Werk.

Newah's Garden is under the care of some pretty dedicated volunteers, "Liz and Hillary, the extension agents, they asked us three grandmothers if we would adopt it," said Joanie Racine. Herself, Tammy Werk and Lorraine Brockie are the grandmas. "We got started late last summer so we were kind of at the end of the planting season. We basically just watered what plants had survived the summer. Going into this year we were way more organized and had a plan."

Culture and heritage were an integral part of the grandmother's plan, "We as native people have always been in touch with nature and mother earth. One thing we depended on for our survival and livelihood was the plants. Our ancestors didn't just go pick any plant, they knew what to pick, where to find them," said Racine. "We were all in total agreement, all three of us grandmas, because we know some things about the plant's, especially the native plants, we have had knowledge passed down to us by our ancestors for thousands of years. We know when to harvest and when to plant all of it and how to preserve it after it's picked."

Racine is very passionate about the garden and explaining the reason for its design, "The garden is in the shape of a medicine wheel, circular, it has four colors, four directions and also is represented by four animals. We are working on including something to represent the animals, we know what needs to be put their we are just not there yet. For example, the color for north is white and the animal is buffalo. We may choose to use a painting or something different, we just haven't decided." Racine added, "Basically the medicine wheel represents the cycle of life, everything flows in a circle. My husband Don Racine Jr. made the Arbor that encompasses the garden."

When they began in the spring the grandmothers knew exactly what was going in the ground, "The plants we have in now we transplanted from the local area that are used for medicines, foods and ceremonies and we also included herbs, that aren't native," said Racine. Their mission is pretty straight forward, "Our goal is it's 'Neewah's Garden' and when it was being built, we included our grandchildren, they were a big part of the construction and maintenance of the garden. Our grandchildren were always included, watering planting, weeding. The Garden is within Hays Community Garden and so there has always been a place where people come together, we want our garden to be a gathering place a spot where people can visit, and we can educate the people about the plants their history and their importance to our culture."

The grandmas along with the help of Liz and Hillary from MSU-Extension, Fort Belknap applied for the Rural Re-Imagining Grant through and received funds. The Blue Heaven Harnessing Hope Project managed by Toby and Liz Werk helped provide the building materials and supplies. In time five cement benches to be set in place. "Eventually we would like to expand that to include smaller benches for our grandchildren, we are grandmothers, and we really want them to feel like they have a spot in the garden as well," added Racine.

When the time came to place the benches' finding help was not a problem, "We were working to organize a group to help but when we arrived at the garden there was already great community group of volunteers on hand to help. They were just there, and it was enough, everything went smoothly and at the end of it all the grandmas provided all the helpers with a meal!" Craig Shambo, Liz Werk, Benny and Bobby Heppner, Don and Joan Racine, Tammy Werk, Cindy Heppner were all on hand for the bench placing. Lorraine Brockie wanted to be their but wasn't feeling to good, but she sure helped with the cooking. Racine concluded by stating, "The grandmothers, Craig, Toby and Liz on our own made a few extra specializations to the benches that you have to wait to see."