Support Sovereign Seeds: Indigenous-led Seed Crisis Response Circle

Covid-19 has had tremendous impacts on food security, with disproportionate impacts on Indigenous people due to pre-existing injustices. Sovereign Seeds has responded by launching a Covid-19 Indigenous Seed Crisis Response Circle to collaboratively grow ancestral seed crops and lovingly re-distribute them to Indigenous individuals and initiatives who need them.

“In response to the preexisting food insecurities intensified by COVID-19, Sovereign Seeds is facilitating the COVID-19 Indigenous Seed Crisis Response Circle, an Indigenous seed stewardship collective operating with a commitment to nurture Indigenous seed varieties for improved seed health and access through and beyond this pandemic. Through this collaboratively-governed seed network, dedicated Indigenous seed leaders have come together to grow Indigenous seed varieties in the 2020 growing season to increase Indigenous seed supply. Seeds generated through the Circle will be lovingly redistributed to Indigenous individuals and initiatives requiring access to their ancestral seeds for food and seed saving next year. Indigenous seed keepers and initiatives comprising this collaborative seed collective span across what is colonially known as Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, and include Blackbird Medicines, Igataqan, Ininīwikistayikēwin, Kenhte:ke Seed Sanctuary and Learning Centre (KSSLC), Kete Miinakaan Kitigaanens, Mtigwaaking, and Stephen Silverbear McComber of Kahnawake Collective Impact’s Three Sisters Mound Garden initiative. This project is inspired by a project recently initiated by Sovereign Seeds’ partner network, the Indigenous Seed Keepers Network (ISKN), who are developing an Indigenous-led Indigenous Seed Growers Cooperative south of the border across the Upper Midwest.”

The Circle is hoping to raise $35,000 to support the time and effort of the participating seed keepers, equipment and materials for seed production and storage, and costs to redistribute seeds to community members. Let’s help them reach their goal!

>>Donate to Support the Circle here!<<

About Sovereign Seeds

Sovereign Seeds is an Indigenous-led network dedicated to supporting Indigenous seed sovereignty in what is colonially known as Canada. We work to facilitate meaningful opportunities for Indigenous people to connect with one another and with our ancestral food relationships. Sovereign Seeds exists to support the revitalization, transmission, and vitality of Indigenous peoples’ seeds and seed cultures for the health of our people and the territories we depend on.

Sovereign Seeds combines collective seed visioning with relational action. By cultivating seed education opportunities, collaborative spaces, and tools, we aim to contribute to Indigenous seed efforts by nurturing and strengthening our ancestral seed practices.

Sovereign Seeds is supported by SeedChange (formerly USC Canada), so all donations are 100% tax-deductible.

>>Donate to Support the Circle here!<<