We are collaborating with First Nations and agricultural landholders to restore portions of private land adjacent to waterways within the Fraser Watershed.
As a decolonized approach to habitat restoration, Foodlands features collaboration with First Nations through the co-design of corridor sites, the integration of traditional knowledge and language, and the creation of local jobs.
Foodlands strives to be an ethical space of engagement by convening people who wouldn’t ordinarily meet. Bringing together agricultural landholders, First Nations rights and title holders, and other community stakeholders to develop a collective restoration vision, the Foodlands program addresses both environmental and cultural concerns, creating a space for cross-cultural learning, together, on the land and about the land.
See this sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Corridor document for more about the work taking place along the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River).
The term Foodlands acknowledges a diversity of food harvesting systems, both from a western farming and traditional hunting and gathering perspective. Foodlands Corridors are created by restoring and connecting adjacent parcels of privately held land to form a natural corridor. A restored Foodlands Corridor supports a food system that is healthy, sustainable, just, and inclusive. The long-term goal of Foodlands is for fully restored corridors to be stewarded in perpetuity by local Nations, landholders, and other community members.
For hundreds of years, farming and other colonial land uses have caused degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, subsequently impacting the communities that depend on the stɑl̓əw̓ for their food systems and livelihoods. Historically, Canada’s approach to conservation has been grounded in the colonial idea of preserving natural landscapes, often without the consent of those who have stewarded these lands for thousands of years and with little regard for their health and well-being.
Foodlands recenters local Indigenous knowledge, ecological values, and cultural practices, making them the heart of restoration and land stewardship work to connect, protect and restore the Fraser Watershed.
“stɑl̓əw̓” is the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word for the Fraser River. hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is the Downriver dialect of Halkomelem; one of many Indigenous languages spoken across the Fraser Watershed. Translations provided by Knowledge Keepers and language learners from Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
“sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm” is the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word for the Salmon River. hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ is the Downriver dialect of Halkomelem. Translations provided by Knowledge Keepers and language learners from Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
Rivershed is implementing a Foodlands corridor on the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) in Langley, in the shared territory of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo and Matsqui Nations. We are working in collaboration with səýeḿ Qwantlen (the business subsidiary of the Kwantlen First Nation), Langley Environmental Partners Society, Kerr Wood Leidal, Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, Kwantlen Land Guardians, and multiple landholders along the river.
At various stages throughout project planning, Rivershed is consulting and working with Kwantlen and Katzie Knowledge Holders to integrate culturally significant plants in the habitat restoration plans, which also focus on the animals and other targeted species that have been harvested and hunted for spiritual, nutritional, and/or medicinal purposes. To uphold the traditional place, plant and animal names, Knowledge Holders are providing translations in local dialects of Halkomelem.
Drag the line to the right and left to see a “before” photo of a floodplain at the site during construction, and “after” the restoration work was finished.
“Before” photo by Al Jonsson. “After” photo by Kendra Nelson.
In 2021, work began in the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm corridor with two parcels located on the floodplain of the river. In an area wrought with invasive Reed Canary Grass, the team replanted 4,642 m2 of the riparian zone with endemic species that will provide abundant instream and overhead cover for salmon and enhance the biodiversity of aquatic, avian, and terrestrial species within the corridor. The project has also created approximately 2,870 m2 of new or restored wetted habitat for overwintering kwóxweth / kʷəxʷəθ (coho salmon).
As of Fall 2022, Foodlands has restored 6 of 12 potential parcels within the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm corridor. With 12,000 endemic plants already in the ground and nearly 11,000 m2 (1.1 hectares) of restored natural area along the river, Foodlands aims to restore another 1.5 to 2.5 hectares to create a fully restored Foodlands Corridor on the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm.
Drag the line left and right to see an off-channel wetted habitat that was created. The before image is during construction, and the after photo is the off-channel habitat one year later.
“Before” photo by Brendan Chu of NERV productions.
Restore species-at-risk habitat on the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) through the removal of invasive species, endemic replanting, building bat and owl boxes, creating off channel wetlands and creating a robust riparian buffer.
Cultivate cross-cultural understanding of Indigenous food systems and land management at the direction of səýeḿ Qwantlen and Kwantlen First Nation through the planning, implementation and maintenance of the project site.
Foodlands is currently enhancing and building new relationships within the Nechako region of the Fraser Watershed, within the territories of the Stellat’en, Nadleh Whut’en, and Saik’uz Nations. The Foodlands team is exploring an opportunity for establishing the first restoration sites for a Foodlands Corridor within the region. We are continuing to learn about priority areas and issues, the impacts of logging, farming, and ranching in the area, while working towards developing collaborative relationships with landholders, other organizations and local communities. Stay tuned for updates via our blog and socials!
“Rivershed is nothing short of a first-class organization. From the leadership down to the boots on the ground! The pilot project was well organized, and everyone involved knew exactly what the plans were on a daily, weekly basis. One day, I was building fencing and walked over to where the main stem channel connected to the Salmon River and was stopped in my tracks. I saw a six-inch Coho leave our habitat and enter the river! That moment made all the hard workdays worth it! The feeling of seeing that fish using a habitat I was part of creating will stick with me forever.”
Kelly Yates, Kwantlen First Nation Elder and key team member.
Interested in learning more about Foodlands? Please fill in the following information and a member of the Foodlands team will be in touch!
Thank you to everyone who attended this Foodlands site visit on the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm. The sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) in Langley, on the shared territory of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo and Matsqui Nations. On October 13, 2022, the Rivershed Team was thrilled to welcome BC Finance Minister, the Honourable Selina Robinson (MLA, Coquitlam-Maillardville) to a Foodlands Corridor…
Part of our work with the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program on the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) is conducting wildlife surveys to track the success the habitat restoration efforts. In the beginning of April, we conducted our first survey with Birds Canada through their Marsh Monitoring Program. These multi-year surveys will track the presence of amphibians and…
An important part of the restoration work at our pilot Foodlands Corridor on the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) in Langley has involved removing invasive Reed Canary grass (phalaris arundinacea) and replacing it with native species. The new plants will shade out the invasive grass while creating habitat for local wildlife. “stɑl̓əw̓” is the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word for…
This restoration work was supported by the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, a program funded by the Government of British Columbia and delivered by The Real Estate Foundation of BC in partnership with Watersheds BC.
This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change. Ce projet a été réalisé avec l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada agissant par l’entremise du ministère fédéral de l’Environnement et du Changement climatique.
Additional funding support provided by Dr. Bronner’s, Instafund and the Pacific Salmon Foundation Community Salmon Program.
Support our work to connect, protect and restore the Fraser Watershed.
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We are thrilled to have been selected as a finalist for the 2024 Land Awards! 🎉
Thank you @refbc for recognizing the Foodlands Corridor along the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River)* as one of 21 projects leading the way in sustainable, equitable, and socially just land use and real estate.
🔗 See who the 21 Land Award finalists are and learn more about the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program at the links in our bio.
“sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm” is the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ name for Salmon River. Translation provided by Knowledge Keepers and language learners from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
#WatershedCPR #HabitatRestoration #GenerationRestoration
🌎 Happy Earth Month! 🌿 Let`s make a difference together for the Fraser Watershed and, in turn, our planet! 🌊 Your donation supports programs like Foodlands Corridor Restoration and on-the-water education, promoting sustainability and stewardship. 🌱
🔗 Head to the link in our bio to donate today!
#EarthMonth #SupportSustainability #DonateNow
Happy #FoodlandsFriday! 🌸 Today, we want to highlight one of the restoration methods used by the Foodlands team: live staking. Live staking is when you cut off a branch from a plant, remove the leaves, and insert it into the ground where it will grow new roots. Not every plant can be live staked, but this is an efficient and cost-effective way to restore riparian habitats.
Within Foodlands Corridors, we use this method to plant Xéltsepelhp / χeleʔəɬp (Willow)* and Th’exwíyelhp / t̕ᶿəxʷiyəɬp (Red Osier Dogwood)*. The live stakes can quickly grow roots, which helps to stabilize streambanks, and grow leaves, which helps to create overhead cover for wildlife and shade out invasive Reed Canary grass. 🌱 The first picture shows how tall Xéltsepelhp / χeleʔəɬp (Willow) grew in the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) Corridor after only 1.5 years.
🌿 Learn more about the work the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program is doing at the link in our bio.
*Capitalized translations are Halq’eméylem (the Upriver dialect of the broader language of Halkomelem), and the lower case words are hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (the Downriver dialect). Halkomelem translation provided by Knowledge Keepers and language learners from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
📷 1 by Emily Pearson
📷 2 by Miki Eslake
📷 3 by Kelly Yates
#WatershedCPR #HabitatRestoration #GenerationRestoration
Looking for something to do over spring break? Come say hi to the Rivershed team and learn about our Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program at Fort Langley National Historic Site on Tuesday, March 26th!
#EventsforKids #WatershedCPR #SpringBreak
Creeks and rivers are beautiful and provide access to plenty of recreation opportunities, but living alongside water often comes with the risk of flooding. Nature-based solutions can help! For this #FoodlandsFriday, we`d like to show you how. 🏞
Creating off-channel habitat helps provide water with more accessible space, reducing the risk of floods damaging farmland and property. Even more importantly, they can provide important habitat for fish species like Kwóxweth/kʷəxʷəθ (coho salmon)*. Foodlands has created these off-channel habitats in the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) Corridor. We`ll be at the Fort Langley National Historic Site on Tuesday, March 26th - come visit us at to learn more!
*“Kwóxweth” is Halq’eméylem and “kʷəxʷəθ” is hən̓q̓əmin̓əm for coho salmon. Translation provided by Knowledge Keepers and language learners from Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
#WorldWaterDay #WatershedCPR #GenerationRestoration
Will you contribute $50 today to help keep boots on the ground at the Foodlands restoration sites? 🥾🥾
We completed the winter effectiveness monitoring on the Foodlands corridor along the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm* (Salmon River)* with Kerr Wood Leidal and the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance a couple of weeks ago and found many native fish thriving in the restored aquatic areas, including large-scale suckers, redside shiner, stickleback and northern pikeminnow. 🐟 We also discovered some big Kwóxweth / kʷəxʷəθ (coho)* and cutthroat trout in the river. This shows the restored habitat is being used by target species and gives us confidence as we prepare for new restoration projects this fall.
Your donation directly fuels efforts to protect and restore the Fraser Watershed. 🔗 Find the link to donate in our description.
*Capitalized translations are Halq’eméylem (the Upriver dialect of the broader language of Halkomelem), and the lowercase words are hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (the Downriver dialect). Halkomelem translation provided by knowledge keepers and language learners from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
📷 Photos by Miki Eslake
#Donate #WatershedCPR #SupportNonprofits #HabitatRestoration
Next week is Invasive Species Awareness Week! Invasive plants and animals are a threat to ecosystems throughout the Fraser Watershed, including at the restoration sites in the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) Corridor. Raising awareness can help stop the spread of these invasive species.
The Foodlands team has observed numerous invasive species throughout the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Corridor, including pumpkinseed fish, smallmouth bass, and green frog. Through restoration, their aim is to improve the local habitat for native species, in particular species that are culturally significant or listed under the Species at Risk Act. Effectiveness monitoring is conducted twice a year to understand how well restoration efforts are helping native species to thrive.
How can you help? There are many ways to halt invasive species in their tracks, and we can all do our part! As you plan your spring gardens, choose native plants wherever possible to avoid introducing invasive seeds that can spread rapidly. It is also important to clean boats and equipment when moving from one body of water to another, and to keep the soles of your boots clean when exploring new areas.
“sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm” is the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ name for Salmon River. Translation provided by Knowledge Keepers and language learners from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
➡️ Learn more about the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program at the link in our bio.
@invasivespeciescentre #InvSpWk #InvasiveSpecies #HabitatRestoration #FoodlandsFriday
As a recipient of this year`s Partnership Recognition & Exploration (PRE) Fund, we would like to express our gratitude to the UBC Office of Community Engagement for their generous support of the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program.
The PRE Fund empowers community partners to build reciprocal relationships with the university`s students, faculty and staff. From working with First Nations to restore land along the Fraser Watershed to combating ageism through theatre and performance, this winter’s chosen projects showcase the diverse ways in which communities are partnering with UBC students, faculty, and staff on community initiatives.
Thank you, UBC Office of Community Engagement, and congratulations to the other PRE Fund recipients!
@orlreads
@vanartgallery
@sadsfoundationca
@redfoxsociety
@westerngoldtheatre
@fightingblindnessca
@covenanthousebc
Alex Haagaard, Community-Based Researcher
STEAM Ecosystems BC
@kelowna.tree.protectors
Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique (SDECB)
Surrey Wraparound Program
@legionatubc
National Pilipino Canadian Cultural Centre Society (NPC3)
#funding #WatershedCPR #SupportNonprofits
