Anishnaabeg Ogitigaaniwaa: The People’s Garden

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan is creating Anishnaabeg Ogitigaaniwaa (The People’s Garden), a food sovereignty initiative of their Seventh Generation Program, to localize the Tribe’s food system in a culturally meaningful way. They are creating sister garden pathways to grow traditional foods and medicinal plants and provide Indigenous Science teachings. They will reintroduce planting and harvesting songs in their traditional language. Community members will learn to make and use traditional farming tools. Harvested foods will be used in community feasts, their school lunch program, and a Seed-to-Table program for their Elder care center, revitalizing the ways of their ancestors while they work together to grow, prepare and share foods.