What is the FSE Program?

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Food Sovereignty Education Program (FSE) is rooted in Anishinaabe values to ensure that food sovereignty and access to healthy foods is a living practice. We aid in strengthening our community by reconnecting people of all ages to Indigenous foods, cultural knowledge, and traditional land-based practices. With a strong focus on school-age youth, we provide hands-on learning in gardening, harvesting, traditional food preparation, and the teachings that support a healthy relationship with our food and the land. We are grounded in collaboration and creating buy-in for sustainable programming. By partnering with local schools, community programs, and local families we are working to build lasting skills that empower our people to grow and care for their own foods . Starting from the beginning by teaching and supporting relationships with our seeds and gardening across Leech Lake; inclusive of all outer villages. We offer guidance and support to encourage local food production/gardens for our relatives and their households.

FSE Intake Form

484653447_1099225915341186_8936573063422638139_n

481912498_1090436919553419_1654809088097127388_n

474327337_1370427994321206_1710010591405983624_n

472181456_1355273182503354_5497673716482977996_n

484750112_1099088645354913_4360807097317867186_n

Collaborative Partners

LL ECD (Cass,Ball Club, Bena, Onigum)
FDPIR
Food Sovereignty- Food Access
School districts – Cass Lake-Bena School
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School
21 Century Grant
Maajiigin
Leech Lake School Age Building
Deer River Tech Hub
Leech Lake Diabetes Program
TSHIP
Leech Lake DRM
Healthy Happy Safe Youth Program
Leech Lake Market
Leech Lake Fitness Center

485307625_1099538635309914_7088230582681434738_n

495621939_1138025191461258_191368275378314478_n

488866089_1111218574141920_5445933344214658072_n

485158148_1099729751957469_3382879635257634533_n

485089187_1099102735353504_7746530843429629967_n

our impact

The Food Sovereignty Education Program focuses on bringing back traditional foods and the teachings that go with them. Our goal is to help people reconnect with the foods our relatives used and to make those practices part of everyday life again. A big part of that is simply teaching and working alongside our community and keeping that knowledge alive through shared experiences. We work with anyone on the Leech Lake Reservation—youth, adults, families, and programs of all kinds. Everyone gets a hands-on learning experience. Even if different age groups are learning about the same topic, we adjust activities so they match where each group is at and keep things engaging.

What makes our program stand out is how active and interactive it is. People plant, cook, taste, and try things for themselves. It helps build confidence and makes cultural learning feel natural and fun. One of our biggest successes is seeing kids grow up with the program. We meet them when they’re little, and years later they still remember what they learned with us.

The best feeling is knowing that these lessons stick—that when they see traditional foods in the store or in the community, they recognize them and reach for them. That’s how we know the knowledge is truly coming back and being carried forward.

485108520_1099088785354899_7372214570220005713_n

470227173_1345278973502775_8396725292146998936_n

FARM TO TABLE

Aliquam erat volutpat. Ut quis ligula a magna blandit finibus. Suspendisse maximus lacus non nunc lacinia lobortis.

Read our blog

Meet the Team

652606624_1491106702641553_5681558641254916385_n

Marcus Roy

Aaniin, Akiwenzii indigoo Marcus Roy indizhinikaaz, Makwa indoodem, Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag indoojibaa. Hello I am the Food Sovereignty Education Coordinator I was a former Educator under the SNAP-Education program for 7 years until this became the FSE program which I now lead. I have lived in Leech Lake all my life and have a wife of 11 years and 6 kids that are all part of the community. My favorite thing about this job and why I’ve been here so long is that I love the community and teaching our children about Indigenous foods and those practices that go with the foods. In my spare time I love to read, listen to music, and have conversations with whoever wants to spark up a talk, Mi’iw.

Mya Morgan

Boozhoo Mya Morgan miinawaa Biiwaabikogiizhig nindizhinikaaz. Winnibigoshish nindoonjibaa. Bemidjigamaag nindaa. I am one of the Food Sovereignty Educators. In my free time, I like to go hiking in the woods to familiarize myself with the plants and their names. I think it’s really peaceful to take moments for yourself like that. I look forward to being in classrooms and focusing on community education, so that we can all strive to be our healthiest.

Valentine Chase

Boozhoo, my name is Valentine Chase. I am from the Battle Point community and I am a proud mom to one amazing little girl. I love staying connected to my culture through sewing regalia and attending powwows. I am passionate about sharing my culture and working with children in meaningful ways.

651708519_1386974473232994_1307932435195342788_n

Contact Info