A community member and his granddaughters help plant at the orchard on June 14. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Planting Day

Over 60 new plants added at James Smith Orchard planting day

Jun 14, 2021 | 4:00 PM

It was planting day at the orchard on the James Smith Cree Nation on Monday, June 14.

A total of 60 new plants were added to the orchard that is now going into its fourth year of operation. Crab apples, regular apples, black raspberries, cherries, and more were added on Monday with the help of Orchid Horticulture.

Patricia Hanbidge (Black shirt) gives a short lesson on how to plant some of the fruits. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

Community Dietitian Kelsey Mawaro said the orchard started with a grant a few years ago and has given opportunity to community members to get fresh fruits and vegetables close to home.

“Accessibility of foraging opportunities really,” Mawaro told northeastNOW. “And being on the land, and just working towards sustainability,” are some of their goals.

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Community members also attended the planting day and Mawaro said the planting day, and the orchard as a whole, really bring the community together.

(Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

“It’s not tangible, it’s hard to explain, but people feel it when they come and they plant and they’re in the dirt and on the land,” she said.

Elder Ivor Wayne Burns was also at the planting day. He said the orchard is a great learning opportunity for the younger community members, as well as those who may not know a lot about the planting and growing of fruits and vegetables.

The day takes people “Back to ground roots when we had to plant in order to have food for the winter,” Burns said.

Burns and his grandson are responsible for watering the orchard three times a week.

Burns also led a smudging ceremony which included a prayer to honour the Creator and Mother Earth. Having a ceremony before something like planting holds a lot of cultural importance, he said.

Community members gather for the smudging ceremony. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

Elder Ivor Wayne Burns speaks during the smudging ceremony. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

“We always have a ceremony before we do anything,” he said. “We pray and honour and respect to our Creator, we pray and honour the four directions, we pray and honour Mother Earth.”

A number of community members stop by the orchard to help maintain it throughout the year, and community members are able to come and harvest some of the fruits and vegetables that grow later in the year.

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mat.barrett@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6