Earth Tending is a part-time, paid employment training program (supported with core funding from Miziwe Biik) for 7 – 10 unemployed or underemployed Indigenous Peoples living in the Greater Toronto Area. The training sessions are led by Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts, and are designed to braid together Indigenous Knowledge with that of industry green infrastructure practices. The program runs for six weeks, from the first week of May to June, and begins and ends on the Land with a Traditional Opening and Closing. Trainees gain an introduction to green infrastructure through talks as well as hands-on, skills-based opportunities, and also learn about workplace readiness and other training / apprenticeship opportunities.

In 2023, the second year of the program, Indigenous trainers included: Gary Pritchard (4 Directions of Conservation Consulting Services), Carolynne Crawley (Msit no’kmaq), Samantha Williams (Toronto Metropolitan University Urban Farm), Brad Howie (Crawford Lake (Conservation Halton), and Gwen Lane, Sheila Boudreau and Natalie Sisson (SpruceLab). Knowledge Keeper Luana Harper-Shirt shared Water Teachings, and Indigenous Education Advisor Amber Quail supported the program throughout. Other trainers included: Friends of Allan Gardens, Nicole Austin (TMU Urban Farm), LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests), Garden Jane, City Forest, Lorraine Johnson, Crawford Lake (Conservation Halton), Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (Toronto Region Conservation Authority), ACER (Association for Canadian Educational Resources), Next Level Stormwater Management, and ZinCo Canada. Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association led workplace readiness and job opportunity training. The 2023 program was supported in an advisory capacity by Partners For Action (University of Waterloo), and with additional funding from Urban Equation, MBTW, Next Level Stormwater Management, Green Reason, LGA Architectural Parnters, Multiplex, and GH3. If you are interested in participating in or contributing, please email gwen@sprucelab.ca.

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