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).
Foodlands Corridors are created by restoring and connecting adjacent parcels of privately held land to form a natural corridor. The term Foodlands acknowledges a diversity of food harvesting systems, both from a western farming and traditional hunting and gathering perspective. A restored Foodlands Corridor supports a food system that is healthy, sustainable, just, and inclusive.
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 speakers from the 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 speakers from the 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, 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 / kʷəxʷəθ3 (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.
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#FoodlandsFriday update! Last week, four Members of BC`s Legislative Assembly visited the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River)* Corridor to tour a Foodlands project site and meet some of our team. At the end of the visit, we were excited to invite the group to participate in harvesting and planting Xéltsepelhp / χeleʔəɬp (willow)* whips!
A big thank you Ministers Nathan Cullen, Bruce Ralston and Murray Rankin, Parliamentary Secretary Fin Donnelly, and staff for taking the time to join us and learn about our work. We are grateful to @kerrwoodleidal, @lepslangley and the landholders for joining us on the site tour, and to collaborators səýeḿ Qwantlen, Kwantlen Land Guardians, and Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance for their important role in restoring and stewarding the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Corridor.
To learn more about the restoration work Foodlands is doing, visit 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 speakers from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
📷 Photos by Miki Eslake.
#WatershedCPR #WatershedRestoration #HabitatRestoration #RiparianPlanting #WatershedResiliency
Happy #FoodlandsFriday! Guess what`s dropping at the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River)* restoration site? Bat guano! 🦇
During a recent site visit, the Foodlands team noticed these bat droppings underneath bat boxes that were installed in April. We don`t know what species the guano is from, so samples are being collected and sent for DNA analysis.
It can take a long time for bats to move in so we are thrilled to see droppings already, knowing it means the bat boxes are being used! You can read more about the installed bat boxes at the blog post linked in our bio.
*hәn̓q̓әmin̓әm (Downriver dialect of Halkomelem) translation provided by knowledge keepers and speakers from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
📷 Lara Volgyesi and Kendra Nelson
#GenerationRestoration #LittleBrownBat #BatsOfInstagram
It`s #FoodlandsFriday! Restoration work takes many hands and helpers, and Foodlands works with many collaborators on the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River)* corridor. One of which is the Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS).
As a leading environmental organization in the Fraser Valley since 1993, LEPS partners with local environmental stewardship groups to engage the public in initiatives that contribute to a healthy community. LEPS has been involved with the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm corridor since the beginning, and their insights and experience with habitat restoration have been integral to the success of the project. In addition to planting, LEPS is also working in collaboration with the Kwantlen Land Guardians on site maintenance.
🌱 We are forever grateful to LEPS for the knowledge that they share and their dedication to the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm corridor. We could not have gotten this far without them! Make sure to follow @lepslangley to learn more about their work. You can learn more about Foodlands at the link in our bio.
📷 Photos by Lisa Dreves, Kendra Nelson, and Olivia Dawson/NERV Productions.
#GenerationRestoration #HabitatRestoration
Happy #FoodlandsFriday! 🐟 During recent effectiveness monitoring surveys, the Foodlands team found juvenile Kwóxweth / kwəxwəθ (coho salmon)*! These juveniles will stay in freshwater habitats for 1-3 years, seeking off-channel habitats that provide cover and protection for the fish as they grow. The second image shows the finger-like off-channel habitats that have been constructed along the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) corridor.
🌿 For more information about the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program, check out the link in our bio.
*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 speakers from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change. Additional support provided by the @pacificsalmonfoundation`s Community Salmon Program, @drbronner and @healthywatersbc; a program that was funded by the Government of British Columbia and delivered by @refbc in partnership with Watersheds BC.
📷 Juvenile coho salmon photo by Kendra Nelson.
#GenerationRestoration #CohoSalmon #SalmonConservation
Happy #FoodlandsFriday! The beautiful flower shown here is T`á:ts’elhp / t̕ec̓əɬp (hardhack)* and is one of the species planted along the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River) corridor. These shrubs form a dense thicket that helps increase bank stabilization, reduce erosion and provide cover for wildlife. The beautiful pink flowers are important for pollinators such as hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. 🐝
🔗 To learn more about what has been planted at the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm Foodlands corridor, visit the blog post linked in our bio!
*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 speakers from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
📷 Kendra Nelson @intertidalkendy
#GenerationRestortation #HabitatRestoration
#FoodlandsFriday site updates! Last month the Foodlands team was back on-site at the sće:łxwәýәm (Salmon River)* corridor, and were amazed at how tall the χeleʔəɬp / Xéltsepelhp (willows) have grown. It is so great to see the plants added to the site in 2021 and 2022 establishing themselves and creating a more biodiverse riparian zone. Now that the shrubs and χeleʔəɬp / Xéltsepelhp have grown tall, they should outcompete the invasive reed canary grass.
While at the sites, the team also saw common yellowthroat birds nesting within the off-channel habitat. It`s fulfilling to see the growth and different wildlife in the restored habitats.
📷 First two photos are from a summer site visit, and the third photo is from a winter visit, showing the incredible growth over a few months. Photos taken by Emily Pearson
🌿 Want to learn more about and support the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program? Check out the link in our bio!
This work was supported by @healthywatersbc, a program funded by the Government of British Columbia and delivered by @refbc in partnership with Watersheds BC. Additional funding support provided by @drbronner, Instafund, and the @pacificsalmonfoundation Community Salmon Program.
*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 speakers from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
#GenerationRestoration #HabitatRestoration
Happy #FoodlandsFriday and #WorldNatureConservationDay! 🌳🌎
Historically, Canada’s approach to conservation has been grounded in the 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.
The Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program is taking a different approach by collaborating with First Nations through the co-design of corridor sites, the integration of traditional knowledge and language, and the creation of local jobs. By putting Indigenous knowledge, ecological values, and cultural practices at the heart of restoration and land stewardship work, Foodlands is helping to transform the *stɑl̓əw̓ (Fraser) into a resilient watershed with salmon, people, and communities flourishing in rivershed communities.
🌱 Want to learn more about the Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program? Check out the link in our bio!
*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 speakers from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
📷 Emily Pearson
#GenerationRestoration #FraserRiver
Check out this new visual of the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm (Salmon River)* corridor for #FoodlandsFriday! 🗺
Thanks to the tireless combined efforts of Foodlands collaborators, landholders and volunteers, the sc̓e:ɬxʷəy̓əm corridor has grown to 11,035 square metres of restored natural area. In total 12,029 endemic plants have been put in the ground, covering a total area of 7,785 square metres, and 2,870 square metres of aquatic habitat has been restored or created.
What a huge accomplishment, we are grateful to everyone involved in this effort.
🌿 Read more Foodlands updates in the new blog post linked in our bio.
*hәn̓q̓әmin̓әm (Downriver dialect of Halkomelem) translation provided by knowledge keepers and speakers from the Kwantlen and Katzie Nations.
#GenerationRestoration #RiverRestoration
