Over the past year, CIER has worked alongside Northlands Dene, Barren Lands and St. Theresa Point First Nations to strengthen food sovereignty through gardening and pollinator species support. The three communities have identified an urgent need to adapt to the negative health impacts of climate change related to wild foods and their availability. We are dedicated to building capacity toward envisioning a sustainable food future in these communities and understanding how pollinators and gardens can help achieve this vision.  

In August, CIER Project Manager Wendy Ross and Biodiversity Associate Emily Hoppe travelled to Barren Lands First Nation to visit with the community, tour the gardens, and meet with community leaders to learn about their vision for food sovereignty. During the visit, they learned about what worked well in the gardens and shared information and resources on the critical link between pollinator success and food sovereignty.  

CIER also provided tracking sheets designed to be used by gardeners to track their progress and showcase the value of their gardening activities to others inside and outside the community. The gardeners wanted to continue this crucial work and gave ideas for future workshops and capacity-building activities, demonstrating their dedication to community resilience.  

This month, the Pollinators Success Stories Art Contest reached the deadline for entries. The contest was designed to educate youth on why pollinators matter, and to celebrate pollinator success stories within their communities. The response was terrific—CIER received many beautiful submissions! These works of art will be part of a photo booklet digitally shared nationwide with other First Nations and pollinator protector partners. Stay tuned as we reveal the contest winners later this month. 

As we enter the harvest season, we’re excited to see the abundance it will bring for Northlands Dene, Barren Lands and St. Theresa Point First Nations. We’re also excited about our upcoming visit to St. Theresa Point First Nation later this month to continue this important work toward a sustainable and food-sovereign future. CIER is grateful for the funding received by The Donner Foundation to make this vital work a success.