In September 2024, our team facilitated workshops in schools and communities throughout the Dehcho region, making pickles and jam, and learning from each other about the importance of food preservation and food sovereignty.
We started in Ka’a’gee Tu/K’ágee Tue First Nation, where we celebrated the workshop with a community feast, bringing together Elders and local residents.
With support from Hotıì ts’eeda, Ecology North spent some time in Tthets’éhk’e Délî First Nation, where we went onto the land with youth and Elders to harvest berries – which we then turned into delicious jam with the community!
Our team also visited the students at Lı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ Elementary School, where we set up grow towers, allowing students to grow their own food indoors.
We spent some time in Pedzeh Ki First Nation, working with youth at Chief Julian Yendo School, preparing vegetables to be pickled and turning berries into jam.
One of the highlights of the trip was returning to Charles Yohin School in Nahæâ Dehé Dene Band, where earlier this year, our team helped students plant a community garden. This time around, we harvested carrots from that very garden and used them to make pickles with the community.
Our last stop was Acho Dene Koe First Nation, where we visited the students at Echo Dene School. We were there for Culture Week, and we had a wonderful day of preserving food and testing water.
Overall, it was a wonderful trip. We laughed, we played, and we learned from each other. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing youth and great community members.
Mahsi to all our wonderful partners, including Ka’a’gee Tu/K’ágee Tue First Nation, Tthets’éhk’e Délî First Nation, Lı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation, Pedzeh Ki First Nation, Nahæâ Dehé Dene Band, Acho Dene Koe First Nation, Polar Knowledge Canada, Wilfrid Laurier University, the GNWT, Sustainable Canada Agricultural Partnership, and Hotıì ts’eeda.
