The Bimaaji’idiwin and 13 Moons extension programs with Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (FDLTCC), in partnership with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, are excited to host the 2024 Bimaaji’idiwin Garden Feast on Saturday, September 28, at the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School Pow Wow Arbor. This free event brings together community members. Representatives of state, federal, and Tribal organizations, and other programs to promote fresh, local, and culturally relevant foods as a way to support community health and provide education on Native agriculture and food sovereignty. For more information on the great event, visit https://fdltcc.edu/event/bimaajiidiwin-garden-feast/.

“We’re excited to welcome the community to the fourth year of the Garden Feast! This event celebrates the growers and producers, participants in the Bimaaji’idiwin Producer Training Program, and the growing season with families, friends, and the community,” shared Erika Resendiz Alonso, Ag Community Outreach Coordinator with the Bimaaji’idiwin Garden Program and Producer Training Program.

The Bimaaji’idiwin Garden Feast will include foods prepared by Native chefs Vern DeFoe, Vanessa Casillas, Alex Gokee and Mace Fonoti. The event will also include baaga’adowewin (traditional lacrosse) with David Bezhigoogabaw Butler, a reading with Allie Tibbetts, painting with Michelle DeFoe, a rice knockers and push pole demonstration with Dylan Savage, a soil samples for testing and garlic planting demonstration with John Fisher-Merritt, Bimaaji’idiwin Market, and more.

“Foods will be prepared by Native chefs and youth, utilizing very local, healthy, and native foods, will be featured. There will be fun, culturally relevant activities to learn from each other about local food systems,” shared Resendiz Alonso.

The event will take place at the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School Pow Wow Arbor at 49 University Rd in Cloquet, between 1:00pm and 5:30pm. For more information on the event or the Bimaaji’idiwin and 13 Moons FDLTCC extension programs, please visit https://fdltcc.edu/event/bimaajiidiwin-garden-feast/.

The Bimaaji’idiwin Garden Feast was made possible thanks to support from USDA NRCS Education Equity grant, the Minneapolis American Indian Center, Tribal Grants Program, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

For information and vendor tables contact:
Erika Resendiz Alonso – ErikaResendizAlonso*AT*fdlband.org, 218-878-7141
Phil Savage – phillipsavage*AT*fdlband.org, 218-878-7123

Learn about Bimaaji’idiwin and 13 Moons FDLTCC Extension Programs

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It is awesome here at the FDLTCC Education Program because it is like a family here, if you need help or are struggling with anything, you have quite a few people who will help you out.

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I chose FDLTCC because of its size and the curriculum. When I first came here in 2019, I was just looking for what I needed to volunteer, perhaps in a crisis shelter. I met with Don Jarvinen, and the rest is history.