This disparity emphasizes the urgent need for initiatives that support food sovereignty and sustainable local food systems that enable Indigenous communities to reclaim their traditional practices and knowledge so they can heal, grow, and thrive on their own terms.

Amidst these challenges shines a beacon of hope and resilience in the form of the Indigenous-led Food Forest Initiative funded by Canadian Feed The Children's family of supporters. To date four food forests, covering 27.75 acres, have been started in Indigenous communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, providing fresh and healthy food to the communities now and into the future. With your partnership communities can continue to build food forests and you can help achieve the goal of expanding to 10 food forests by 2030. 

In honour of National Indigenous History Month and thanks to a group of generous members of our Leadership Giving Circle, your gift this month will be doubled to help children and families living in our partner Indigenous communities across Canada.

Indigenous reclamation through food forests

Jennifer Cameron, a dedicated member of Beardy’s & Okemasis' Cree Nation, serves as the Food Security Coordinator, spearheading efforts to reclaim Indigenous food systems and promote food sovereignty within the community. With a passion for permaculture and horticulture, Jennifer embarked on a journey to establish a food forest, a sustainable ecosystem that mimics the diversity and resilience of natural forests while providing nutritious foods and medicines year after year. 

"In 2019, I proposed the idea of a food forest here in the community. Many people said that would never happen but here we are in the food forest three years later, and it's coming along," Jennifer recounts.

The journey to establish the food forest was not without its challenges but with Jennifer's determination and the support of over 100 community members, the field has transformed into a thriving food forest. 

With over 700 trees planted, including apple, Saskatoon berry, and raspberry varieties, the food forest serves as a living classroom where community members of all ages can reconnect with the land, learn about traditional plants, and gain valuable skills in food preservation and preparation.

Youth carrying on traditional ways

Summer, Jennifer's 11-year-old daughter, embodies the spirit of resilience and connection to the land that the food forest represents. When we caught up with her, she shared that she loves practicing traditional methods like hunting and gathering to create delicious land-based meals. “I like to pick lots of Saskatoon berries and just eat them or make jams,” she tells us.

Her true passion, however, lies in hunting, where she excels with a bow and arrow. As a weekly tradition, Summer hunts with her family for rabbits, mainly, and uses them in a variety of dishes like stews. Her talents also extend to her green thumbs, where she has grown fruitful plants like apple trees, and haskap and blueberry bushes. 

Reclaiming Indigenous food systems within communities is the first step to restoring food sovereignty and enhancing food security. Traditional harvesting methods, like the ones Summer practices, help further land-based knowledge and provide nutritious food year-round.

Through initiatives like the Food Forest Initiative, Indigenous communities are reclaiming their right to food sovereignty, reclaiming their ancestral lands, and reclaiming their cultural identity. By supporting initiatives that empower Indigenous communities to heal, grow, and thrive on their own terms, we can all play a part in building a more just and equitable future for all. 

You can help more Indigenous communities Heal. Grow. Thrive. Donate today to help expand from four to 10 food forests by 2030. All donations matched 2X so you can double your impact, but only until June 30!

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