The Earth Tending program, created and delivered by SpruceLab, is designed for unemployed or underemployed First Nations, Inuit or Métis Peoples living in the Greater Toronto Area. It is a six-week paid training program for 10 trainees to learn about green infrastructure and its importance to climate resilience while developing base knowledge and skills with hands-on experiences through Indigenous Knowledge, Teachings and Land practices. Land-based experiences include tree and shrub planting, green roof restoration, urban forest investigations, and site visits to evaluate green stormwater management installations (permeable paving and bioretention areas). The program is taught by Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts, with the aim to braid together Indigenous and Western green infrastructure approaches and best practices. It provides trainees with an introductory understanding of nature-based solutions, and builds land-based knowledge and skills to build capacity for Indigenous persons to enter the expanding green infrastructure sector. The program’s first three years were great successes, with extremely positive feedback from both trainees and trainers. Below is a quote from the second year of the program:

“My experience at SpruceLab was excellent, as I thought that it was very well-organized, with booklets and literature for each day or event that we went to. ... The instructors were chosen for their knowledge and their past relationships built with Sheila, and incorporated a unique blend of Indigenous Knowledge with Western science. In my opinion this is important, because it helps bring two different worldviews together, and when relationships can be formed from different perspectives it teaches us to be accepting of one another.  And thus, we can build sustainable relationships from that end.  Green infrastructure is about sustainability after all.” -Richard Peters, 2022 trainee

The program is made possible through the generosity of Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training and Service Canada, and contributions from other sponsors and donors. It also builds on the successful model that was initiated and co-founded by Sheila (in a volunteer capacity), called Nikibii Dawadinna Giigwag (Indigenous youth paid training program, now hosted at University of Toronto’s Daniels Faculty). The trainers for the 2025 program are as follows: Carolynne Crawley (Indigenous Knowledge Holder and Turtle Protectors), Luana Harper-Shirt (Indigenous Cultural Knowledge Holder), Amber Quail (Objibwe Artist and Indigenous educator), Jane Hayes (Garden Jane), Matt Canaran & Charles Leonard (Friends of Allan Gardens), Todd Irvine (City Forest), Courtney McCann (Landscape Ontario), Alice Casselman & Sadia Butt (ACER), Brian Millward & Sarah Halonen (LEAF), Orlando Martin Lopez Gomes, Ashley Edwards & Tara Ramkhelawan (FoodShare Toronto-Flemo Farms), Jordan Hofstra (ZinCo), Karen Liu (NLSM) Erika Schiller, Milena Smodis,  (Ginkgo Sustainability Inc.), Daniel Filippi & Sara Finnimore (STEP), Samantha Williams-Barrantes & Nicole Austin (TMU), Karen Abrahams (Native Plants in Claremont Inc), Mary Anne Young (TRCA) Lorraine Johnson (Author, Native Plant Specialist), Denise Miller (Revitalizing Our Sustenance Project).

Below is a short video about the program, from Sheila Boudreau (program creator), Renita Swan (2022 trainee), and Matthew Canaran (2022 & 2023 trainer).

For information about this amazing program, please contact Gwen Lane, gwen@sprucelab.ca