The Story of New Beginnings
In the heart of Canada, the Land of Dreams is emerging as a beacon of hope and transformation in Calgary.
Inspired by the wisdom of the Blackfoot community, this project aims to create a healing and restorative community space where newcomers to Canada can grow, learn, and thrive together.
The Land of Dreams is an urban farming initiative on Treaty 7 territory in Southeast Calgary.
Our Mission
To create a welcoming and healing place, where newcomers to Canada, guided by the wisdom of the Blackfoot community, can learn, grow and succeed together.
Our Vision
We see a regenerative farm and community center where people from different cultures come together to share knowledge, support each other, and build a happy inclusive society. This is more than a project; it is a movement for healing the land, bringing communities together, and growing stronger together.
CCIS Land of dreams
Who we are
Land of Dreams is located on a 30-acre plot of public land in southeast Calgary and is energized by various ethnic community associations and guided by Blackfoot elder, Herman Many Guns.
We offer refugees a safe space to connect with the Indigenous community, supporting their healing processes, educating them about the land’s history, and reconnecting them with their skills in farming brought here from their home countries.
Land of Dreams is led by a passionate team committed to creating a welcoming environment for newcomers.
Land of Dreams is a partnership with refugees and newcomers that offers a unique opportunity to build connections between Indigenous peoples and newcomers by collectively healing the land through regenerative agriculture.
Guided by Indigenous Elders, Land of Dreams hosts
annual events to build bridges between refugees and
the Indigenous community.
- Land of Dreams Tipi Raising Ceremony,
- “Story Tea” Cross-Cultural Sharing Circles,
- Spirit Doll-Making Workshops,
- KAIROS Blanket Exercises,
- Circle Teachings with Elder Herman Many Guns of the Blackfoot Confederacy, and
- Purification Ceremonies led by Indigenous Elders.
- Work with Herman and the Blackfoot Confederacy to seek support and validation of our dream.
- Create architectural and landscape designs for alignment to the vision.
- Develop essential infrastructure (solar panels connected to the grid).
- Year-Round programming to assist newcomers to play in the cold
- Install accessible beds (made from post consumer plastic lumber).
- Construction of a multipurpose greenhouse that includes bee house,
propagation room and vegetable washing station.
- Achieve regenerative farming practices, including the growth of native foods, indigenous medicines and the development of food forests.
- Social Enterprise prototypes (market greens, chicken, and flower farming, and beekeeping).
- Develop multi-use structure for community centre among the various community groups; Cameroon, Senegal, Guinea, Yazidi, Congo, South Sudan, Vietnamese, Nepal, India, Mexico, Syria, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ukraine, Eritrea.
- Continue to work with the City and Province on Expansion to test the scalability of the model
acre plot of public land
Design of the Land of Dreams
The Land of Dreams features several thoughtfully planned areas, each serving a unique purpose to support the community:
These beds, designed like traditional medicine wheels, symbolize integrating Indigenous wisdom and practices into the Land of Dreams.
It is crucial for us to erect our tipi each season as it signals to the local indigenous community that we seek to build a stronger relationship.
This area focuses on beekeeping and honey production, offering educational opportunities about the importance of bees in our ecosystem and providing a source of local honey.
Essential facilities for the operational management of the Land of Dreams, including spaces for tools, administrative work, and coordination of activities.
A space dedicated to composting organic waste, promoting sustainable practices, and reducing the community’s ecological footprint.
PIONEERING INITIATIVE
A promising practice in newcomer resettlement
The Land of Dreams was recently recognized as a promising practice in newcomer settlement and integration in Canada. Read the brief here. Click on the video below to hear from our colleagues and Indigenous Community partner.
Future Components and Enhancements
The vision for the Land of Dreams includes several exciting additions to enhance its functionality and appeal further.
Greenhouse:
This is a crucial element for extending the growing season and allowing the cultivation of plants that require a more controlled environment.
ReWilding Area:
A space dedicated to cultivating indigenous medicines, native plants and flowers, supporting local biodiversity, and providing a serene environment for reflection and connection with nature.
Gathering/Event Space:
A designated area for community gatherings, events, and cultural exchanges fosters a sense of community and provides a venue for various activities. Including a dance floor
Expanded Cultural and Educational Programs:
Increasing the variety of workshops and classes offered, including Indigenous teachings, soil health education, and sustainable agriculture practices, preserving foods, diversity and inclusion, and options that emerge from the community.
Community Engagement Initiatives:
Regular events and activities are designed to strengthen bonds among community members and help newcomers find a new family and support network within the Land of Dreams.
Our Impact
The Land of Dreams project is designed to impact the lives of newcomers and the broader community profoundly. By focusing on strategic infrastructure development, community engagement, and sustainable funding, we aim to:
Provide a safe, welcoming space for 300 newcomers to acclimate and thrive.
Foster cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.
Promote sustainable living practices and environmental stewardship.
A Model for Canada
We are thrilled that Land of Dreams now serves as a national model for effective immigrant integration practices. This recognition underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in creating inclusive communities and fostering meaningful connections between newcomers and Indigenous peoples.
Over the course of seven years, we have engaged newcomers and the local community who have connected with the land and the Indigenous community.
Land of Dreams was recognized by Pathways to Prosperity Partnership as a promising model nationwide. Land of Dreams has also been recognized and funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, TD Friends of the Environment, The United Way, Alberta Health Services and the Community Impact Fund of the Alberta government.
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