Ajashki is FirstU’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #2 to end poverty, and UNDRIP’s effort to reduce systemic racism. Ajashki wants to harness the potential of youth leaders by promoting access to Indigenous language and culture related to ancestral gardening practices.
Getting Back to the Garden with Ajashki
The Board of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa recently approved support for Ajashki, a Community Agriculture, Food Security, Urban, Low-income Youth Pilot Project to be initiated on campus land. It is one response to the acknowledgement that the Campus rests on unceded, unsurrendered, Algonquin Anishinaabeg Territory and also a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Report’s call to create Indigenous-led youth programs.
The name Ajashki, Algonquin for “soil”, was chosen for this project because soil is the vital element of any garden. In fact, the quality of soil impacts all species. The soil is also a symbol of where we begin to grow as people and as community. Reconciliation requires that we open ourselves to learning about other people and cultures. This project will provide such opportunities.
The name Ajashki, Algonquin for “soil”, was chosen for this project because soil is the vital element of any garden. In fact, the quality of soil impacts all species. The soil is also a symbol of where we begin to grow as people and as community. Reconciliation requires that we open ourselves to learning about other people and cultures. This project will provide such opportunities.
what's happening in the ajashki heart garden?
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Kayoki Whiteduck and Lynn Kofmel-Preston have this to say about the garden:
"Ajashki garden is up and growing after a long (and continuing) battle with dog strangling vine and gout weed! The garden has evolved from an area of mulch and weeds to thriving garden beds full of fresh food[…] Most of the beds are made with recycled or found wood and they depict different styles, including piled earth, bordered gardens and containers. We now have two Future Food Warriors, Rhe and Jordyn, who have helped to build and tend the gardens while learning about plants and agriculture. […] Thursday afternoons are filled with sharing of skills and talents and explorations of the history of Indigenous Canada and Agricultural Knowledge. The teaching and learning relationship is relaxed and productive. Plant identification walks help in understanding what is in the local area. The focus of these walks is on edible weeds and ornamentals. Who knew there was so much to eat outside our front doors? |
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The Future Food Warriors have also learned how to harvest produce and to prepare garden fresh dishes for our shared lunches. The garden has been generous, enabling us to share some of the early harvest with folks at the Parkdale Food Centre.
You will notice, every time you walk in the garden, that things have changed. Guests have dropped by to speak with us about horticulture and food systems and how they relate to climate change (conventional agricultural practices are a major contributor to climate change, while changes in our food systems can have a significant positive impact) and the environment (growing our own food creates less packaging waste). You are welcome to drop by and see for yourself."
You will notice, every time you walk in the garden, that things have changed. Guests have dropped by to speak with us about horticulture and food systems and how they relate to climate change (conventional agricultural practices are a major contributor to climate change, while changes in our food systems can have a significant positive impact) and the environment (growing our own food creates less packaging waste). You are welcome to drop by and see for yourself."
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Kakitigejik
The Gardeners
Kayoki Whiteduck
Kayoki is a young Algonquin Anishinabe farmer from Kitigan Zibi. He is a youth with a vision to teach other indigenous youth how to grow their own food, in an effort to address food insecurity in urban First Nation communities. Kayoki is a strong advocate for sustainable, regenerative permaculture, farming and gardening practices. He has received a Certificate in Horticulture from Camosun College in Victoria, B.C. and has studied Western Herbalism at the International Academy of Health Sciences in Ottawa. Kayoki is the first Indigenous person to be selected to the Canadian Agriculture Youth Council (CAYC). He was recently chosen to co-chair the CAYC's Climate Change Initiative. This past April, Kayoki was FirstU’s Youth Delegate to the UN Intergenerational Conference: All in for Climate Justice, Food Equity and Sustainability. Kayoki grows and markets teas from plants that he cultivates, or harvests from tended wild areas.
The Gardeners
Kayoki Whiteduck
Kayoki is a young Algonquin Anishinabe farmer from Kitigan Zibi. He is a youth with a vision to teach other indigenous youth how to grow their own food, in an effort to address food insecurity in urban First Nation communities. Kayoki is a strong advocate for sustainable, regenerative permaculture, farming and gardening practices. He has received a Certificate in Horticulture from Camosun College in Victoria, B.C. and has studied Western Herbalism at the International Academy of Health Sciences in Ottawa. Kayoki is the first Indigenous person to be selected to the Canadian Agriculture Youth Council (CAYC). He was recently chosen to co-chair the CAYC's Climate Change Initiative. This past April, Kayoki was FirstU’s Youth Delegate to the UN Intergenerational Conference: All in for Climate Justice, Food Equity and Sustainability. Kayoki grows and markets teas from plants that he cultivates, or harvests from tended wild areas.
Kayoki - Ajashki
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Kayoki Whiteduck - gardening
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Jazzmin Foster
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Jazzmin Foster
Kwey Kwey, Waaseyaa Nungo Niimi Migizii Aabinoojii ndizhnikaz, Mukwaa ndodem, Kitigan Zibi Aanishinaabeg ndonjibaa.
Jazzmin Foster is a Niizh- Manitoowaag, "Two-Spirit" being who grew up in West Nipissing Ontario, their ancestral lineage and home being Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Quebec. Throughout their life, Jazzmin gained experience working on farms and ecological projects. They are currently focusing their academic studies on Indigenous Environmental Science at Trent University. Their academic research interests include the interconnections within ancestral ceremonies, sustainability, biodiversity and holistic trade systems. Jazzmin has had the opportunity to mentor and teach youth in the fields of Indigenous science, traditional ecological knowledge and leadership development.
Jazzmin hopes to be able to bring a holistic approach to the project by helping to nurture a space where both participants of the project and the community can learn and grow with the intention of true connection to self, others and the land.
Kitigan
The Garden
Kayoki and Jazzmin will plan and lead Ajashki. They will establish food gardens on the Unitarian campus with the help of two Indigenous and two non-Indigenous youth who will assisting with building gardens, planting, and tending to the plants (the federal government definition includes youth 18 to 30 years old). The Ten Oaks Project, an organization that engages and connects young people from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ communities, will direct interested youth to the Ajashki Pilot Project.
The team will be onsite for two days a week, working in the garden and engaging in structured learning about plant identification, local wild sources of food, sustainable soil amendment and plant care practices, climate effects on food production, and harvest and food sharing. Through skills development, the potential for future youth leaders will be developed, and participants will be introduced to the possibilities of future employment in agriculture while enjoying a shared harvest.
Ajashki is designed to provide opportunities for reconciliation through relationship building and understanding cultures. To this end, daily programming will include time spent exploring the cultures of the participants through music, art, story sharing and food. To record their experiences, they will be asked to keep a photo voice collection of their learning.
Support from FirstU comes in the form of the garden space on the campus, access to water and electricity and sharing tools with the Meditation Gardens.
A circle of support centred at FirstU includes Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants.
Dashan Pimosen Kitiganing
Come Walk in the Garden
Kayoki and Jazzmin have an inherent understanding of the interconnectedness of the natural world. They care deeply about fostering the interaction of people with nature and people with each other. They will support participants to accept differences and recognize shared values, ideas, goals, and experiences. They will lead them to better understand themselves and others while showing them the possibilities in food production and an understanding of the importance of caring for the earth.
For a congregation seeking a Green Sanctuary Accreditation, Ajashki fulfills the accreditation requirements for working with traditionally marginalized communities in our area. It is one of many actions being taken by the FirstU community to recognize our responsibility for environmental and climate justice. Ajashki helps us to respond in practical, functional and caring ways, greening the campus, learning to appreciate what is already there, promoting understanding across cultures and helping to prepare youth to face personal and community challenges.
Kwey Kwey, Waaseyaa Nungo Niimi Migizii Aabinoojii ndizhnikaz, Mukwaa ndodem, Kitigan Zibi Aanishinaabeg ndonjibaa.
Jazzmin Foster is a Niizh- Manitoowaag, "Two-Spirit" being who grew up in West Nipissing Ontario, their ancestral lineage and home being Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Quebec. Throughout their life, Jazzmin gained experience working on farms and ecological projects. They are currently focusing their academic studies on Indigenous Environmental Science at Trent University. Their academic research interests include the interconnections within ancestral ceremonies, sustainability, biodiversity and holistic trade systems. Jazzmin has had the opportunity to mentor and teach youth in the fields of Indigenous science, traditional ecological knowledge and leadership development.
Jazzmin hopes to be able to bring a holistic approach to the project by helping to nurture a space where both participants of the project and the community can learn and grow with the intention of true connection to self, others and the land.
Kitigan
The Garden
Kayoki and Jazzmin will plan and lead Ajashki. They will establish food gardens on the Unitarian campus with the help of two Indigenous and two non-Indigenous youth who will assisting with building gardens, planting, and tending to the plants (the federal government definition includes youth 18 to 30 years old). The Ten Oaks Project, an organization that engages and connects young people from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ communities, will direct interested youth to the Ajashki Pilot Project.
The team will be onsite for two days a week, working in the garden and engaging in structured learning about plant identification, local wild sources of food, sustainable soil amendment and plant care practices, climate effects on food production, and harvest and food sharing. Through skills development, the potential for future youth leaders will be developed, and participants will be introduced to the possibilities of future employment in agriculture while enjoying a shared harvest.
Ajashki is designed to provide opportunities for reconciliation through relationship building and understanding cultures. To this end, daily programming will include time spent exploring the cultures of the participants through music, art, story sharing and food. To record their experiences, they will be asked to keep a photo voice collection of their learning.
Support from FirstU comes in the form of the garden space on the campus, access to water and electricity and sharing tools with the Meditation Gardens.
A circle of support centred at FirstU includes Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants.
Dashan Pimosen Kitiganing
Come Walk in the Garden
Kayoki and Jazzmin have an inherent understanding of the interconnectedness of the natural world. They care deeply about fostering the interaction of people with nature and people with each other. They will support participants to accept differences and recognize shared values, ideas, goals, and experiences. They will lead them to better understand themselves and others while showing them the possibilities in food production and an understanding of the importance of caring for the earth.
For a congregation seeking a Green Sanctuary Accreditation, Ajashki fulfills the accreditation requirements for working with traditionally marginalized communities in our area. It is one of many actions being taken by the FirstU community to recognize our responsibility for environmental and climate justice. Ajashki helps us to respond in practical, functional and caring ways, greening the campus, learning to appreciate what is already there, promoting understanding across cultures and helping to prepare youth to face personal and community challenges.
