Project Forest Cumberland House Cree Nation Food and Medicine Forest is a 2 hectare area of land located within a larger 15 ha future planting site in Cumberland House Cree Nation (CHCN), Saskatchewan. The Nation is situated within the Saskatchewan River Delta, the largest inland river delta in North America, and a substantial underground CO2 sink. Cumberland House Cree Nation is working to restore and protect the myriad of ecosystem services provided by this unique landscape.
In partnership with Cumberland House Cree Nation and Cumberland Wood Products, Project Forest is planting a traditional food and medicine forest, re-establishing traditional plants and land usage in the community. The challenge of this site was not a lack of trees, but the over-mature forest. Due to human interference, such as wildfire suppression, the forest has not been allowed to regenerate naturally. In discussion with the community, we identified the best area to plant, and now, species like wild rose, raspberry, and Saskatoon are growing in Cumberland House Cree Nation.
Project Forest and our partners trained and hired community members of CHCN to plant the food and medicine forest in June 2022. Planting day brought out many families and generations who worked side by side, building a lasting legacy of plants that will feed, heal and strengthen their community and traditional ways of life.
Through our community of Project Forest partners, we are helping Indigenous communities to re-introduce culturally and medicinally significant plants to their lands.
