Tomatoes and peppers growing in the Bad River high tunnels, August 2016.

Bad River Tribal Food Sovereignty

Historically, Bad River maintained a substantial annual food supply. The food supply came from gardens, the watershed, and the forest. 

​There are many current food sovereignty projects occurring in Bad River, including the Bad River Gitiganing Community Garden project, which works to feed the people of Bad River in ancient gardening sites. The tribe is also working on re-educating members on how to harvest and prepare wild foods, and providing them with some of the resources to carry this out. 

During 2015, Bad River Food Sovereignty (BRFS) managed four gardens, and provided tools, resources, and over 700 seedlings to 80+ community members.

In the spring of 2015 the Elderly Program garden was expanded to an extra 500 square feet of growing space, added a garden along with two high tunnels at the old tribal school, and continued our efforts at the wake house and pow wow grounds. 

In the summer of 2015 BRFS acquired two high tunnels. Food produced will be used for community feasts, youth programs, and hopefully someday end up in the casino’s restaurant. 

A weekly event called Free Food Fridays took place during harvest time. During Free Food Fridays produce and soup was given away to community members. 

Bad River Food Sovereignty plans to move forward with a project titled “Planting the Seeds.” The Planting the Seeds project aims to reconnect community members with the seasonal foods available in their backyards and beyond, and inspire new generations of leaders of the food sovereignty movement. 

-- From the Bad River Food Sovereignty 2015 Report

For more information, contact:

Joy Shelble
4H Youth Development Educator, Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program (FRTEP), Bad River
715-682-7111 ext. 1630
joy.schelble@wisc.edu

This FRTEP educator position was created by the Tribal Chairman and community members of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to serve Bad River youth with traditional foods education and experiences.  The objectives of the position were created within the job description with the goals to: 

  • provide youth with meaningful education to use their treaty rights to wild harvest foods and medicines
  • learn gardening and high tunnel food production
  • participate in physical activities to reduce childhood obesity
  • and to preserve, prepare, and share food in culturally meaningful and appropriate ways

The position is on a three year grant cycle and at the conclusion of each cycle the objectives are reviewed by an community advisory board and modified as needed to better serve Bad River youth.

The FRTEP educator provides opportunities and education for youth at:
- Bad River Head Start
- Mashkiisiibii Boys and Girls Club
- Birch Hill Community House
- Bad River Healthy Lifestyles program
- Ashland Middle School high tunnel
- Ashland Elementary school garden
Bad River youth maple syruping with former Tribal Chairman Mike Wiggins Jr.
Seeding plants for the 2016 growing season.
Bad River has constructed two high tunnels on the Reservation that are being planted with food to feed the community.