Instead of simply preserving green spaces, active stewardship involves intentionally creating habitats to support wildlife directly within the urban fabric. This includes installing structures such as bat condos and birdhouses to replace lost natural shelters, as well as planting "pollinator pathways" of native flowers. The goal is to weave a functional, resilient natural landscape that supports vital species like bees, birds, and butterflies, fostering a healthier city for all its inhabitants.

The Indigenous ecological restoration perspective can be woven through meadows that feature plants chosen for their profound cultural significance as medicines and foods, such as sweetgrass, elderberry, and milkweed. A Cultural Meadow is an act of both environmental and cultural healing; it makes Indigenous knowledge and heritage visible on the land while fostering a reciprocal relationship of care.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Please take a moment to respond to the questions, and feel free to react or respond to what others have shared.

1. What is the role of an individual Kitchener resident in this vision, and how can the City best support and encourage citizens to turn their own properties into functional parts of the larger urban ecosystem?
2. What would a "successful" Cultural Meadow or a thriving "pollinator pathway" look and feel like from both an ecological and an Indigenous knowledge perspective?