By Rebecca Ivanoff
At the EFAO Conference in 2024, Kara Tremblay and Janice Brant connected and began dreaming of rematriating the Algonquin Pumpkin and Speckled Algonquin Bean back to Kara’s community project at Leading Cloud Gardens in Apitipi.
“I would like to rematriate some of the Algonkin seeds to her and her community project,” Janice wrote at the time. “It would be interesting to see how the seeds adapt to her community location.”
From that small spark grew a collaboration rooted in reciprocity and care — a shared effort to return these ancestral seeds home and support their continued life in community. “Miigwetch, Janice, for this beautiful gesture! I’m so excited about the rematriation of the Algonkin seeds to our community project,” Kara replied. “It’s a meaningful step in preserving and honouring these seeds’ history, and I can’t wait to see them thrive here.”
In the spring, Janice mailed the rematriated seeds north. By late summer, the plants were thriving — and Janice, Ken, and their dog Maggie made the long journey from Tyendinaga to visit Kara and the garden in person. This trip took them from near the waters that flow out of the Great Lakes into the Atlantic ocean, to the lakes and rivers near Apitipi which flow north into the Arctic ocean.
When Janice, Ken, and Maggie arrived at Leading Cloud Gardens, the visit was filled with joy, learning, and reconnection. “It is an honour and pleasure to share some photos with you from our trip to Leading Cloud Gardens as a follow up to the seed rematriation of the Speckled Algonquin Bean and Algonquin Pumpkin,” Janice wrote after the visit. “It was very awesome to see Kara again and to spend time with her at the garden and with her daughter Willow. The land and day were beautiful.”
During their visit, they spent several hours walking the gardens, sharing stories, observations, and teachings. “There are so many things to share that I observed and learned from Kara and her daughter. It’s hard to know where to begin. We shared and explored so much together those few hours on site at Leading Cloud.”
In the garden, the rematriated seeds were flourishing. “We got to see the Algonkin pumpkin growing and maturing and developing in the field at the Leading Cloud. It looked fantastic. It had many blooms and gorgeous, healthy vines and maturing pumpkins,” Janice shared. “Kara also has a second pumpkin planting that may yield more seeds and fruit! We couldn’t be happier.” Nearby, the Speckled Algonquin Bean was also thriving: “The plants were healthy and the vines heavy with plump pods of maturing beans along with some smaller immature beans which could be picked for food.” Drawing on her experience, Janice offered practical seed-saving advice: “Tap the dry yellow pod and if you can hear the beans seeds moving around then pick it and lay it out somewhere to continue to dry out of direct sunlight. If frost is near and the beans are not mature, consider cutting the plant off at the base and laying out the entire plant with the pods on them so that they can continue to mature.”
As they reflected on the visit, both Janice and Kara spoke with deep gratitude and reverence for the work and relationships that made this rematriation possible. “There is so much more to say and share about this beautiful place — the gardens and plants and how to incorporate seed saving and to practice some foraging to help clean and manage the gardens,” Janice wrote. “Kara, you have done amazing work to put these things in place for the Leading Cloud Gardens, for the memory of your auntie and all the ancestors, and for the community.”
Kara shared that the visit left a deep impression on her as well: “It’s been such a true pleasure working with you, and having you, Ken, and Maggie visit Leading Cloud Gardens was such a gift,” she wrote. “The day felt full of good energy — sunshine, laughter, learning, and a sense of something much bigger growing around us.” She continued, “Your knowledge, generosity, and kindness mean so much to me and to our community. The rematriation of the Algonquin Pumpkin and Speckled Bean is such a powerful act of reconnection, and seeing them thriving here is truly an honour. You’ve shared not only seeds, but stories, teachings, and spirit.”
As the season turns and the beans and pumpkins come to seed, the story continues — one of relationship, care, and the living return of ancestral seeds to their homelands.
Rebecca Ivanoff supports farmers to learn about regional seed production, and to implement participatory variety trials and plant breeding projects as part of The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security and EFAO’s Farmer-Led Research Program. Rebecca holds a M.S. in Anthropology and International Development from the University of Guelph, with a lifelong curiosity for the plants around her and the connection between plants and culture. In farming, plant breeding, and seed saving she seeks to honour the past, present and future.