Fourth Sister Farm

The work of the initiative is about self-determination. This is done by creating space and resources for funders to come to the understanding of how the initiatives need to be met with an Indigenous-led focus, says George-Jim. Wish to see this happening in all communities.

Check this out Northerners! I’ve been participating in the ADAPT Program for a few years, and it’s a ton of fun! But let’s take it one step further: Trial fun seeds and new varieties, while also helping to feed our communities. ... Seed Savers Exchange SeedChange / Sème l’avenir - USC Canada Young Agrarians SeedLinked

Here are some basic teachings around Indigenous Seed sharing etiquette. Please note though, that each Steward, Keeper, or Nation, have their own protocols as well. If in doubt: ask. But also don’t be discouraged if the answer is ‘no’. There are many reasons why Indigenous seeds aren’t for trade, some of which are listed in this wonderful video.

A good Land Steward observes, and adjusts. Here you can see that we’re not the only ones who love to munch on native speqpeq7uwi (Saskatoons). Looks like I’ll be trying my hand at vegetative propagation this spring, as well as seed dispersal in the fall, to ensure there’s plenty to go around!

LOCALS, check it! BC-grown seed available in Fort St John! BC Eco Seed Co-op

A deeper look into the care, energy, heart, and healing that goes into the rematriation of seed ancestors to their homes and peoples.

Come prepared with some questions, let’s start a dialogue.

Sharing space with some incredible humans!

Happening tomorrow evening!

Some great advice to think about when choosing seeds. Open-pollinated, heirloom, hybrid seed lingo can be a bit daunting, especially if you’re new to gardening or growing from seed. But we’re here to help you choose seeds for your garden! Here are some things to keep in mind as you search for seeds.

Check out the listings at Seeds of Diversity Canada, to find seeds near you. <3

Get ready! Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning, with windchills near -40 to -45 Saturday night and Sunday as an Arctic air mass settles over the region.

In even the darkest of times, seeds always shine a bright light, as we sow seeds of Hope into an unknown future. This Thursday I am honored to facilitate the ...first of many facilitator trainings centered around our Seed Sovereignty Assessment toolkit, which has been incubating and sprouting as a result of over two decades of listening, apprenticing, opening our hearts and allowing seeds to be our teachers and guides. Our first circle will be with our inspiring friends who are part of a vibrant intertribal Indigenous seed network in the Upper Midwest and the second will be with our dear friends at Pawnee who are restoring their seed bundles to their clans, as the seeds continue to guide their efforts to cultural and spiritual renewal. While we had hoped these circles would have been in person, we are centering collective health and well-being and gathering around the strange digital fire that is the internet. Excited to continue to make this facilitator training available to many other folks in Indigenous communities across Turtle Island and also publish the full toolkit complete with graphic facilitative maps early in 2021. As we move towards greater Food Sovereignty, we often fail to ask the vital question: How much seed will it take to feed our nations and communities? This spring, with seed shortages made evident during the early phases of the pandemic, we were reminded to renew and restore our Indigenous seed relationships, which is intergenerational wealth beyond measure. We cannot continue to abdicate our responsibility to care for seeds to others, even as we know that many of the reasons behind the disconnection to our seeds and land is due to the centuries of violence of the colonial project here on Turtle Island. This work heals that intergenerational trauma and turns it into intergenerational brilliance. What does Seed Sovereignty look like to you? Visit Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance - NAFSA to learn more about how to get involved in the larger Indigenous Seedkeepers Network efforts and engage in future opportunities to learn to be in the loop on these tools and practices as we release them .

Our elders tell us the caribou have been here for us, and now we need to be there for the caribou, said West Moberly Chief Roland Willson.

Reflecting on the last week, and realizing what a whirlwind it’s been for my ‘rest’ days post-Wildfire contract. I’ve been taking in many panels and webinars for seed and food/social justice and sovereignty, and am truly feeling the ‘zoom fatigue’ setting in. So what a nice little treat to see the article I was interviewed for in @modfarm alongside some fierce and beautiful humans: @ladyjnunu @liz.charlebois and even my Dear Mentor @rowenwhite. I made sure to throw in a shout...out to the amazing work being done by our friends at @sovereignseedsnetwork. It still feels a bit surreal to have my voice shared with these people I look up to and consider as leaders in this work we do. But this is a shared movement we are working towards, in helping our respective communities and ensuring seed diversity for future generations. I spent time this weekend also breaking down squash and harvesting our red wattle pigs on-farm, readying them for the gov-inspected butcher. We typically have to load them live, but it’s extremely stressful on everyone, so it was decided that this was the most humane way since they’re for personal use. So I sit with feelings of grief, but with also a heart full of thanks and gratitude for the food sovereignty that continues to guide my way. #foodsovereignty #indigenousseedkeepers #secwepemc #seedsteward #iamaseedsaver #seedseva #indigenousfoodsovereignty #indigenousfarmers #4thsisterfarm

Such an inspiring body of work Amyrose Foll and her Team are a part of. Love following your journey Virginia Free Farm at Spotted Pig Holler

We want to take a moment to pause, reflect, and talk about food sovereignty and why it is at the core of the language we use at AGC. It is the language of liberation. #foodsovereignty

Highlighting the ever-generous seed ancestors!

So looking forward to this beautiful gathering and sharing of the harvests! Keeping traditions and ancestors alive is truly a way we can connect and heal together.

The COVID-19 Indigenous Seed Crisis Response Circle still needs your support! As harvest time moves towards a close, seed work is just beginning. Circle members... are now working to collectively clean, store and take inventory of the ancestral seeds they’ve nurtured all summer. Throughout the winter months, the Circle’s seed keepers will share these seeds with Indigenous individuals and initiatives across Turtle Island, offer guidance to recipients through the creation of an introductory seed saving resource, and continue to lend their leadership to the cross-community seed governance that makes the Circle so special. Through these efforts, more ancestral foods and seeds will be grown across Turtle Island next year! Your donation goes directly toward making this happen. Donate today https://bit.ly/3cSls53 This vital, ongoing work meets an urgent need for food and seed and helps decolonize the food system. (Photo courtesy of Sovereign Seeds)

This looks like a fantastic event! Young Agrarians Community Seed Network SeedChange / Sème l’avenir - USC CanadaSeeds of Diversity Canada

Should be a really great conversation. November 19!

Join us from Nov. 12 - 18, 2020 for a series of online conversations and workshops to explore the intersections between food systems, anti-racism, decolonizatio...n, and environmental justice movements. Registration is now open! Cultivating Change will showcase the work of Indigenous, Black and racialized food leaders, and build consciousness and capacity for anti-racist and decolonized approaches and allyship within the food movement. https://foodsecurecanada.org/content/cultivating-change #CultivatingChange2020

Traditional squash braiding, for dry storage

Oct 18 and -16 I’m ready for this season. A time to rest and reflect, and get ready for action and change!

I would love to open up a dialogue on this topic with my followers. Take a look at this article, and see what you think. While I agree that community seed banks have been around since time immemorial, I’m not sure I agree with the last few thoughts here. Yes, indigenous communities are finding and caring for their seed ancestors, and they do ‘deserve attention’, but what can that look like with remaining autonomous to each tribe and/or community without being romanticized or ...capitalized on for someone else’s benefit? How can we ensure seed ancestors are returning home to their people, while protecting them from biopiracy? How can we support this work in a meaningful, but culturally-sensitive way? SeedChange / Sème l’avenir - USC Canada Seeds of Diversity Canada Young Agrarians Seed Savers Exchange https://www.eurasiareview.com/06102020-future-of-food-rest/

Oct 12: Indigenous Peoples Day Listening to some incredibly inspiring mentors and friends in @a growing culture’s takeover day. Taking time today to study my Secwepemctsín language, care for seeds, and enjoy the bounty of the harvest from this challenging season. This is my small way of resilience, resistance, and re-learning my ancestral foodways and traditions.

Happening Today!

OCT 12!! Check out this lineup!! Can’t wait to sit in and listen for a full day of inspiration with these incredible humans!