Our Home and Native Resources: Community planning and sustainable development to build prosperity in Wasagamack and Garden Hill First Nations

This Indigenous participatory research will work with community members from Garden Hill and Wasagamack First Nations to plan community development and work towards achieving sustainable livelihoods in their traditional territories. Research will consider traditional land use and occupancy, and how branding, community development, capacity-building and social enterprise development can lead to self-sustenance and prosperity. Future plans and enterprises must ensure a good life for these First Nation communities and consider opportunities for the youth, and women. This capacity-building will assist community members to engage with the Wabanong Nakaygum Okimawin (WNO) (Ojibway words meaning: “East Side of the Lake Governance”), East Side of Lake Winnipeg Large Area Transportation Network Study and other economic and human development activities which are directly related to traditional land use. Some enterprises identified by the communities thus far are healing centres, woodlots, alternative energy, farms and food markets, fishery co-operatives, tourism, and hunting.

Faculty Supervisor:

Shirley Thompson

Student:

Anita Olsen Harper

Partner:

AKI Energy

Discipline:

Resources and environmental management

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Manitoba