Nēpenowew: It is summer In summer, the days are longer, warmer, sunnier, and sometimes rainier. There is plenty of wild harvesting that can take place during this season, including harvesting wild strawberries, milkweed, and bergamot, to name a few. Household and community gardens are growing through the summer months, with some garden vegetables ready for harvest. Food sovereignty events that occur during this time include community plant distributions, the Kehtakaewak Farmers Market, community education, and youth summer programming. Tahkuahkōwew: It is autumn/fall In fall, the days begin to shorten. Days can be warm, cool, and cold with rain and sometimes snowy surprises. In fall, activities include gathering wild rice, harvesting cranberries, and wild game hunting. Final harvests from the garden are taken and soils are prepared for the next growing season. Foods grown, gathered, and hunted since spring are prepared and preserved for winter months. Food sovereignty events that occur during this time include garden harvesting, the Kehtakaewak Farmers Market, fall tilling and preparation for the next growing seasons, and seed saving. Pepōnōwew: It is winter In winter, the nights are long and the days get progressively colder. This is a time for storytelling, visiting, and working on our traditional arts. Some deer hunting takes place and ice fishing brings us an important source of protein. Food sovereignty events that occur during this time include planning spring seed distributions, procuring Indigenous seeds, hosting Indigenous farming workshops/conferences, and planning spring garden workshops.
What do our seasons tell us?
How do the seasons relate to the environment and weather where you live?
What seasonal activities do you engage in at different times of the year?
What types of changes, if any, is your Tribal community noticing because of climate change?
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