Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

The four-part DVD program covers topics including making products from wild plants, finding such plants, developing business opportunities, training and marketing. "This video presentation will be a valuable resource for residents of northern and rural communities especially Aboriginal youth, who can create a future for themselves identifying these raw materials and non-forest products, and using sustainable, traditional methods of harvesting," said Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) Minister Rosann Wowchuk. "It will also be a very useful teaching tool for youth in 4-H and new harvesters throughout Manitoba and across Canada."

Part 1. Nature (wmv). Wild plants from the boreal forest have medical and healing properties as well as uses for making crafts (20 minutes).

Part 2. Opportunity (wmv). Ordinary people discover business and economic opportunity from the forest, right in their own back yard (20 minutes).

Part 3. Your Future (wmv). Training and marketing ? a guide to sustainable harvesting and marketing what the boreal forest has to offer (14 minutes).

Part 4. The Living Forest (wmv). A tour of the boreal forest to find wild plants and trees for health, healing and craft ideas (42 minutes).

The concept was initiated by Brenda Gaudry who operates her business, Creative Spirit – Utilizing Natural Resources, in Barrows, located 600 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg.  "I was concerned that people were not seeing the opportunities that are right in front of them," said Gaudry. "I believe there is great potential in the non-timber forest industry to create self-employment in many northern areas if people would just open their eyes to the opportunities around them."

Gaudry noted many Aboriginal people were losing the knowledge traditionally passed from generation to generation. Health and healing benefits were traditionally derived from native plants and trees commonly found in Canada's boreal forest, however, over time, much of that historical knowledge has been lost.

The project was funded with $20,400 from MAFRI's Covering New Ground initiative and $4,000 each from the provinces of British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Video Participants:
Brenda Gaudry, Creative Spirit – Utilizing Natural Resources
Yvette Bouvier, early Canadian crafts (local business)
Doug Eyrou, birch bark wine
Shirley Leask, Wild Things (local business)
Dona Barker, pottery from clay near her home
Johnny Bilow, willow furniture
Kevin Bourassa, soapstone carving
Wanda Wolf, Lone Wolf Native Plant and Herb Farm (Saskatchewan)
Fred Stevens, experienced harvester who guides young people in good harvesting practices
Hilda Holstrom , focuses on harvesting and proper handling practices
Eila Metcalfe, Doreen Hardy, Michelle Mathews at the Aboriginal Art Festival and Gathering in Flin Flon where they showcase their crafts.

Video distribution centers:
The video will be available through your local MAFRI GO Offices and GO Centres , the Food Development Centre in Portage la Prairie, Community Futures groups, Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, Communities Economic Development Fund offices, Frontier School Division, Northern Association of Community Councils, Southern Chief’s group, Swampy Cree Tribal Council, chronic disease prevention groups in the Burntwood, Norman and Parkland regional health authorities, the Northern Healthy Food Team and participating communities.