‘Just the beginning’: Pasqua First Nation’s new garden aims to support food sovereignty

WATCH: Mick Favel presents this week's edition of Indigenous Circle.

Pasqua First Nation officially unveiled their new community garden July 11, aimed at supporting food sovereignty and improving the well-being of its members – inside and out.

A launch ceremony marked the start of a five-year initiative, designed to provide free produce to band members, while also engaging the community in the process of growing food.

The garden is situated on land that was once owned by Delbert Pasqua, a band councillor for 14 years who spent his whole life on the First Nation. It is now home to more than 10 different types of plants and vegetables, all grown by community members.

The late Delbert Pasqua had expressed a final wish for the land to be used for the benefit of the community and Pasqua Coun. Roman Pasqua took that responsibility seriously. “He summoned us to his house and gave me instruction to take care of the land as best I could,” Pasqua said.

The idea for the garden came to life after community members and leaders saw the rising cost of produce and the increasing need for healthier food.

The community hopes the project will inspire other First Nations to take similar steps towards self sustainability. “I think it has to go in connection with our food sovereignty and feeding our nation members,” said Pasqua. “Not just our members on the reserve, but also off-reserve. This garden is part of something much bigger.”

Lands manager Candace Carter expressed the importance of knowing where the food comes from. “When we go to the grocery store, we’re not sure where our food comes from. We just buy it and cook it, and we eat it. But here we actually know. We started right from a little tiny seed right to a vegetable. And that’s the best for us.”

According to the garden supervisor, Heather Brailean, Pasqua band members will benefit in more ways than one.

“The cost of buying food has gone up, and I believe that our community needs healthy food. If we create our own garden, I know that the community can afford to come out and pick their own food for free,” Brailean said.

This season marks the first year of Pasqua’s five-year garden project, where members will have access to the garden’s plants during harvest season in the fall.

“Whoever in our community can come out here and, if they want to use some herbs, they can come pick,” Brailean explained.

Brailean is a teacher and active community member who has more than 20 years of experience in her own garden, now she wants to pass along her knowledge - to all ages.

“Some kids don’t know where a carrot comes from or where zucchini comes from. For them, this is all brand new,” she explained. “I want the school to come out and bring the grades and be able to walk around the plants themselves and show them how each plant is growing,” she added.

Each plant is marked with a metal steak, all donated to the garden from Pro Metal Industries, which is also owned by Pasqua First Nation. Many of the wooden and metal markers have incorporated their traditional language on them, providing the opportunity for people to learn the traditional names of plants.

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The garden is beginning to flourish, but not without its own set of challenges, like securing funding and the lack of an irrigation system. The employees currently water each plant individually with a bucket, adding physical exercise to the benefits of the gardeners.

After months of planning and planting, the garden is beginning to see the growth of their first seasonal crops, which they will harvest in the fall. The garden will include a variety of vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini and medicinal plants - all available free of charge to band members.

“I believe it’s just the beginning.” said the lands manager.

Through their vision of looking to the future and health of their band members, Pasqua First Nation is planting seeds of hope in their community. This initiative plans to take care of all areas of the reserves medicine wheel and will taste good in the process.