Our Programs
BIOCULTURAL CORRIDOR
Restoring Ancestral Food Systems & Land Connection
The Biocultural Corridor represents our commitment to restoring ancestral food systems and strengthening connections to land, water, and cultural heritage. We work to protect and regenerate the complex system of biocultural heritage defined by natural boundaries and watersheds.
What We Offer:
Protection of hunting, fishing, and gathering corridors
Restoration of Indigenous subsistence harvesting strategies
Land stewardship techniques grounded in ancestral knowledge
Biodiversity preservation and regeneration
Climate justice and environmental resilience
Intergenerational transmission of land-based knowledge
The Biocultural Corridor includes 6 components:
Chinampa Garden
A space where the intercultural relationships meet to learn about the land and care. The chinampa is inspired by the ancestral knowledge of the Xochimilco in how to sustain a food system in a water system. Garden Drop-Ins on Wednesdays from March to October.
Eagles Path
The house of multigenerational eagles; the path leading up to the field house featuring the return of native species, water to the wetland and a waterway that retains water during the rainy seasons
Outdoor Creativity Studio
Our shop space supports pole carving, hide tanning, and other cultural outdoor activities.
Cedar Mount Sacred Fire
We host fire ceremonies, Mayan ceremonial fires, and seasonal equinox gatherings in an area ecologically and culturally revitalized within the park with native plants.
Research and Living Memory of The Land
In partnership with SFU, we maintain oral history documentation that supports access to the land.
Extended Land Relations
Build connections across the cultural food systems that strengthen networks through an Indigenous relationality perspective.
Chinampa Garden
Traditional Wetland Farming & Food Restoration
Our Chinampa Garden implements traditional wetland farming systems that have sustained Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. We grow corn, beans, squash, and medicinal plants through ancestral agricultural practices. A Chinampa (also called "floating gardens") is an ancient Mesoamerican agricultural system that dates back to the Nahua civilization. Here's how it works:
Chinampa's Traditional Design
Structure
Raised beds built on shallow lake beds or wetlands, separated by narrow canals
Materials
Constructed from layers of aquatic vegetation, mud, and soil
Water Access
The canals provide constant water access to crops through capillary action
Crops
Typically grows corn, beans, squash (the "Three Sisters"), and medicinal plants
Efficiency
Extremely productive, can yield multiple harvests per year with minimal water waste
Why Chinampas Matter
Sustainable
No chemical fertilizers needed; organic matter from canals enriches soil
Climate Resilient
Maintains moisture during droughts, prevents flooding
Biodiversity
Supports fish, plants, and beneficial insects in the canal system
Cultural Significance
Represents Indigenous knowledge systems and food sovereignty
Join our regular programming in the Chinampa Garden every Wednesday from 12PM - 4PM
Preserving Ancestral Culinary Arts & Food Sovereignty
Our Indigenous Cultural Food Hub is committed to preserving ancestral wisdoms and traditional culinary arts. We foster intercultural practices, create solidarity and sustenance economies, and develop reciprocal relational frameworks where we practice together.
What We Offer:
Weekly community dinners featuring traditional foods
Catering services for events and celebrations
Workshops on ancestral cooking techniques
Fair-trade food sourcing outside agro-industry
BIPOC solidarity networks for resource redistribution
Removal of barriers to traditional-cultural and culinary practices
The Indigenous Cultural Food Hub includes 4 components:
Field House Kitchen
Community food preparation and catering
Food Projects
Ancestral food preparation and preservation
Medicine Making
Traditional medicine and plant knowledge
Community Dinner
Weekly gatherings featuring traditional foods during Wednesday droppings