Canada’s Indigenous cultures have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in traditional food and medicine growing and harvesting. Knowledge has been passed down from one generation to the next for centuries until this process was disrupted by colonialism. The city of Toronto has committed to reconciliation, but action is missing. Toronto has many community and public gardens used for community development projects. However, the city’s urban agriculture program does not include any acknowledgement of the role it has to play in revitalizing food sovereignty and food justice for urban Indigenous families and communities. It does not include any provisions for Indigenous garden space to help reconnect urban Indigenous families with the land that was taken from them.

This is a call for change, to demand that the city of Toronto make good on its commitment to reconciliation and begin funding an Indigenous-led community garden network to support cultural revitalization and food security for Indigenous families. Indigenous women in Toronto are disproportionately likely to be single mothers and to struggle with food costs, and to lack access to traditional foods. In an urban setting, they are often prevented from passing on traditional and cultural knowledge due to a lack of access to land and resources.

Toronto currently has at least 72 community gardens registered with the city, but 0 publicy funded, dedicated Indigenous food gardening spaces. Toronto has an essential role to play in financing the revitalization of Indigenous food and medicine gardens throughout the city, and in creating new opportunities for Indigenous women, mothers, and elders to pass along traditional knowledge of agriculture and medicine. Toronto's Community Partnership Investment Program (CPIP) had a budget of $27 million in 2023, and yet none of this was allocated to providing Indigenous mothers and families with community garden space where they can pass along their traditional wisdom and culture. Culture is medicine and land can be de-colonized with action from the municipality to fulfill its commitments to reconciliation. Sign the petition to demand that the city of Toronto fund the establishment of an Indigenous-led food and medicine garden space program in support of Indigenous food justice and reconciliation.

You can also give your support directly to the non-profit Indigenous-led community garden projects around the city!

This petition will be presented to City Hall, Toronto's City Manager, Mayor, and Community Gardens Supervisor, along with a proposal that outlines a comprehensive investment in Indigenous garden space as a part of fulfilling the city's reconciliation commitment.