Sḵwálwen Botanicals
Leigh Joseph, an ethnobotanist, researcher and community activist from the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) First Nation, has prioritized the cultural knowledge renewal of Indigenous plant foods and medicines through her business, Sḵwálwen Botanicals.
Leigh draws inspiration from the teachings of her family and community members, and each of her luxury botanical skincare products has a Squamish name to honour the land that traditional Squamish plant knowledge comes from.
Her interest in the relationship between food and culture was fed by her paternal grandmother’s family from the Snuneymuxw (Nanaimo) First Nation, who she visited and learned from while growing up. She has memories of her family preparing the salmon they caught, making fresh blackberry juice, and joining them to pick vegetables from their garden.
Leigh’s paternal grandparents were part of the estimated 150,000 Indigenous children who were forced to attend residential schools. As she explains, “Much of my adult life has been spent thinking about the intergenerational effects of residential school on my family. I have early memories of visiting my grandparents at their home on the Stawamus Reserve in Squamish where I spent time with the elders who told stories of our territory and how we are connected to the land. These same elders had survived traumas that I did not yet know of. I was fortunate to have had the chance to experience a good childhood, to spend my early years learning from my parents and my extended family.”
Through Sḵwálwen Botanicals, Leigh offers ethically sourced products that are made with the utmost care, and are free of harsh chemicals, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances and colors. As a mother of two, she’s proud to share her family’s teachings and provide her children with a connection to their family’s traditional Squamish knowledge.