Planting “Roots of Reconciliation” at Alderville First Nation

In recent years, Alderville First Nation in South-Central Ontario had to witness the decimation of its green spaces and tree lines due to an infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle species that has left the community looking barren.

Now, to breathe new life into its landscape, the Nation is planning an extensive tree planting and landscaping effort. 

Funded by a grant from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF), the project will see the replanting of over 200 trees and shrubs, carefully chosen in collaboration with the Natural Heritage department and Mitigomin Native Plant Nursery. Maple and fruit trees will provide shade and beauty and supply maple syrup and organic fruits. Cedar, White Pine and Witch Hazel will provide traditional medicine and contribute to the community’s healing practices and cultural revitalization.

Trees will be planted in strategic areas in the community, such as at the Elders’s complex, Pow wow grounds, band buildings, daycare, playgrounds, ball diamond and along the water’s edge. Visible from Country Road 45, the greening of these spaces will also be enjoyed by the thousands of people who pass through the community each year.

The Roots of Reconciliation Project is more than just a landscaping project, it will commemorate the resilience of the Anishinaabe and signify a time of healing for the community that will be remembered for generations to come.

Diocese of Peterborough