By Nigel Maxwell

Muskeg Lake Food Forest receives provincial Heritage award

Nov 1, 2021 | 3:00 PM

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – A unique food security project at Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, has been included with this year’s list of Saskatchewan Heritage Awards.

The idea for the food forest started roughly three years ago with the planting of a number of trees and has since blossomed into something much bigger that will serve the community for years to come. Steve Wiggs, the community’s food security supervisor, told paNOW the Heritage award is a bit overwhelming but added it’s nice to be recognized from a group outside First Nations.

“We’ve had a lot of recognition from other First Nations around us, and organizations we have worked with, but this is the first time any group outside of our little group of collaborators has noticed what we are doing,” he said.

Wiggs explained the community, in partnership with Canadian Feed the Children, had a vision to do something more for food security beyond little workshops for canning and small gardens. Two-and-a-half acres of land are now being used for a mix of fruit and vegetable trees, as well as perennials, and there is some space for smaller gardens.

“But it’s also centered like a community hub so we’ve got a gazebo built and a fire pit and a speaking area and outdoor kitchen so we could host workshops and gatherings there,” Wiggs said.

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An aerial photo taken on opening day. (Submitted/ Steve Wiggs)

Planting tobacco. (Submitted photo/ Steve Wiggs)

Acknowledging that COVID did slow down community engagement, Wiggs said there were still 200 people there for the grand opening at the end of July. He added future plans include options for economic development such as making jams and jellies and other value added products.

“We’ve also started supplementing the kids’ lunches at school with vegetable produce,” he said.

The Heritage awards are being handed out Tuesday night in Regina by Lt. Gov. Russ Mirasty.

Among the other awards recipients from the Prince Albert region are Melfort Queen’s Bench Court House (Physical Heritage Conservation) and Waskesiu Heritage Museum for its Heritage Moments project (Public outreach).

On Tuesday, paNOW will include a more in-depth look at the Heritage Moments project.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell