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.
We’ve translated learnings from the Foodlands Program’s restoration project along the sc̓e:ɬxʷəyəm (Salmon River)* Corridor into a free resource to support collaborative restoration efforts. Download the Foodlands Toolkit to use as an aid to guide your project. It includes:
Tips and suggestions.
Worksheets to help with project workflows, processes and planning.
UNDRIP articles.
Stories about our experiences restoring the sc̓e:ɬxʷəyəm Corridor.
Interested in learning more about Foodlands? Please fill in the following information and a member of the Foodlands team will be in touch!
Mid-August to mid-October are busy months in the world of habitat restoration, and this year the Foodlands sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River)* Corridor has been no exception. The Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program team took on two new ambitious projects to expand the corridor this fall: another bank stabilization project and a marsh connectivity project. “sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm” is the…
In August 2021, Rivershed launched the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program and began work on the first pilot restoration site along the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River)* in Langley, in the shared territory of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo and Matsqui Nations. Two years later, the transformative impact of Foodlands is evident. Seven parcels along the river have undergone…
Planting at the new site. Photo courtesy of Langley Environmental Partners Society. Thank you to the knowledge keepers and speakers from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations for providing the Halkomelem translations used throughout this blog post. The capitalized translations are Halq’eméylem (Upriver dialect of Halkomelem) and the lowercase words are hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (Downriver dialect). The Langley…
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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Are you involved in a land restoration project and looking to make it more sustainable, just, and inclusive but are unsure where to start? 🌱✨
Through the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program, we are collaborating with First Nations and agricultural landholders to restore portions of land adjacent to waterways within the Fraser Watershed. As a decolonized approach to habitat restoration, corridor sites are co-designed, integrating Traditional Knowledge and language, and creating local jobs collaboratively with local First Nations.
We began working on the first Foodlands site in 2021, and we’ve gained valuable insights along the way. To make this knowledge accessible, we’ve developed the ‘Foodlands Toolkit’ a FREE resource for anyone interested in incorporating collaborative practices into their restoration projects.
Link in our bio to download the Toolkit 🔗
#FoodlandsFriday #Agriculture #HabitatRestoration #LandscapeArchitecture
It’s #FoodlandsFriday, and we’re celebrating a great team and recent work that will make the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) Corridor healthier and more resilient.
Stream Bank Stabilization: Using nature-based techniques, our dedicated team stabilized stream banks to support salmon habitat, preventing erosion and improving water quality.
Marsh Connectivity Enhancement: To keep young salmon safe year-round, we connected floodplain ponds, ensuring they have continuous access to the river while reducing the risk of stranding during dry seasons.
A huge thank you to collaborators @kerrwoodleidal, @waterformdesigninc, @ajac_construction, @lepslangley, and the Kwantlen Land Guardians for their invaluable expertise and support in these projects!
🔗 Check out our latest blog post linked in our bio to see how this important work is strengthening the corridor for a healthier, more resilient future.
#WatershedCPR #GenerationRestoration #HabitatRestoration
We are excited to share something that has been in the works for quite some time! 🙌
Introducing the Foodlands Toolkit- a free resource to support collaborative restoration efforts. Geared towards groups working in restoration and those focused on the health of riparian, wetland and freshwater habitats and ecosystems, the Toolkit serves as a starting point for integrating good practices and processes into any land restoration project.
Through the Toolkit, we share the story of the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Corridor and the valuable lessons we’ve learned about collaborative approaches to habitat restoration. We hope it serves as a helpful resource for exploring ways to apply UNDRIP principles to restoration projects. Download it today at https://rivershed.com/foodlands-toolkit/ - 🔗 link in bio.
Thank you to @refbc, @drbronner Family Foundation, and the Keta Legacy Foundation ( @mountaineersfoundation) for funding the toolkit. We are especially grateful to səýeḿ Qwantlen (the business subsidiary of Kwantlen First Nation), Kwantlen Land Guardians, @lepslangley @kerrwoodleidal, Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, Urban Niche Landscape Design, and multiple landholders for their guidance, insights and support during the development of Foodlands projects and this toolkit. Thank you also to @leyatess for designing and illustrating this document.
#FoodlandsFriday #GenerationRestoration #ForFutureGenerations #EcologicalRestoration #habitatrestoration #riparianrestoration #wetlandrestoration #UNDRIP
This #FoodlandsFriday, we’d like to introduce you to a very special guest – a ground beetle known as Blethisa oregonensis. This beetle, which was found earlier this month on the Foodlands sites in the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) Corridor, has only been observed once before in the Lower Mainland! 🤩
We are very grateful to UBC student Matt Tsuruda for his work studying insects on Foodlands sites. Insects can be easy to overlook, but they are the basis of a healthy food web, and this data shows the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Corridor is supporting some uncommon species for the area.
Learn more about the Foodlands program at www.rivershed.com/foodlands (link in bio).
📷 Photos by Matt Tsuruda
#HabitatRestoration #GenerationRestoration #LangleyBC #Beetles #Entomology
Looking for meaningful work opportunities? We have a few here at Rivershed! 🎯
📋 Program Coordinator – Foodlands: Working closely with the Program Manager, this role supports the development, implementation, and monitoring of Foodlands projects.
📍 Event Support (on call): We are seeking multiple individuals to represent Rivershed at various events throughout the Upper, Mid, and Lower regions of the Fraser Watershed on an on-call basis.
📊 Social Media Contractor: We are looking for a skilled Social Media Contractor to help amplify our mission through engaging and impactful digital content.
You can get more details and apply at the link in our bio.
#GreenJobs #nonprofitwork #EnvironmentalJobs #RemoteWork #GetHired
Big things are happening this week at the Foodlands sites along the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) Corridor! Here’s a sneak peak of bank stabilization work, using green engineering techniques, in action.
Like and follow us to see how it looks when it is done!
#FoodlandsFriday #HabitatRestore #GenerationRestoration #LangleyBC
Happy #FoodlandsFriday! Remember the bat boxes the Foodlands team installed in the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) Corridor last summer? These are intended to be maternal roosting habitat for little brown myotis, a Species at Risk. Each box is designed to accommodate up to 300 little brown myotis, who weigh about as much as a toonie!
Recently, the team was on-site to look for bats. While we did not see any bats exiting the bat boxes, but luckily we had help from @readlearnplay`s trusty bat pack backpack! The bat pack contains a device that can identify the echolocation calls of each species of bat, as they emit calls while hunting for insects. Using the bat pack, we found 6 bat species on the site and the little brown myotis was one of them!
🌱 Learn more about the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program at the link 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.
#echolocation #HabitatRestoration #GenerationRestoration #LittleBrownBat
Happy #FoodlandsFriday! Let`s talk about insects. 🐛 They are the backbone of a healthy ecosystem but often overlooked. Rivershed is working with UBC PhD students to better understand how habitat restoration in the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Corridor is impacting the diversity and abundance of insects.
The researchers are interested in all insects and will be setting a variety of traps to capture predator insects that prey on pest species, decomposers, and aquatic insects. This will help to measure the valuable ecosystem services they provide. We are very excited to learn more about these under-appreciated creatures!
#WatershedCPR #BCWatersheds #Entomology
