Breaking Ground: Planting for Food Security in Indigenous Communities

By Bev Hadland,
Ambassador to First Peoples Voices

Spring is here, and we’re not just talking about April showers bringing May flowers. We’re hoping for much more than that this year!

At Crossroads and First Peoples Voices, we believe in coming alongside people and helping them in their areas of greatest need, and we’re excited to share some inspiring news with you.

In conversations with Indigenous communities, we’ve learned that food security is a major concern due to high prices and remote locations. But we’ve also witnessed the power of community-led action and the transformation that can take place when people come together. From Birch Narrows/Turnor Lake in northern Saskatchewan, which started with just three gardens in 2017 and now has 53 in 2022, to the oldest gardener at 82 years old, we’ve seen how gardening can provide fresh produce that is expensive to transport and bring communities together.

At First Peoples Voices, we’re committed to partnering with Indigenous communities to share knowledge and resources to empower them to take action. We’re grateful to have received a generous donation of non-GMO seeds from William Dam Seeds of Dundas, Ontario, which has allowed us to gift 2,998 packets of seeds to 63 Indigenous communities. We couldn’t have done it without your support.

But our work doesn’t stop there. We’re also looking at developing a sustainable “Food Security” program that not only provides non-GMO seeds but also partners with communities to acquire rotor tillers and strong fencing for their community gardens. With your continued support, we can make this a reality and help communities thrive.

Recently, I had the honor of meeting Chief George Cote of Cote Cree Nation, SK, who shared his testimony and journey with Jesus on 100 Huntley Street.

He also spoke about the restoration of Indigenous culture through the return of buffalo on ancestral lands in Canada, a small step in the process of truth and reconciliation among First Peoples.

We want to thank you for your faithful and continued support to First Peoples Voices through your prayers, encouragement, and financial gifts. You’re helping us be a bridge of reconciliation and demonstrate the love of Jesus.

Finally, we’d like to request your prayer for a few things:

• Please pray for Cheryl Weber and me as we plan a trip to Saskatchewan this June. Part of the trip is introducing Cheryl to 4-6 Indigenous communities as well as gathering some stories for 100 Huntley Street.
• Please pray for wisdom for our team as we develop a sustainable ‘Food Security’ program around gardens. We not only want to send non-GMO seeds but also partner with communities to acquire rotor tillers and strong fencing for their community gardens.
• I’m also looking for an assistant/mentor to help me in all aspects of my position. Please pray for God’s choice as we search for someone to carry the mission and mandate forward into the future.

Thank you for your continued support and for being a part of our community. Together, we can plant seeds of change and cultivate hope for a better future.

Blessings,

Bev Hadland