First Nations Waste Minimization Program

Word of the Week!
Tree 🌲🌳🌴
The official provincial tree of Manitoba is the pictured White Spruce! Designated on July 5, 1991, it was chosen for its vast, hardy presence across the province's diverse ecosystems and its historical importance to Manitoba's environment and landscape. This wood can be used for wood frames, snowshoes, tent poles; and its pitch can be used to seal the joints of birch bark canoes!

We're also pleased to introduce our other newest team member, Tuva Carneholme! She's joining us a Junior Pathfinder and will be working with us throughout the summer. Check out her bio below!

"Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden but I have spent much of my life moving between different places. I am excited to now have landed in Winnipeg and to explore Manitoba -and to continue expanding my knowledge of sustainability. Sustainability has long been an important part of my life, I partook in the arrangement of school climate strikes, participated in legal action against the Swedish government, and always continued to learn more. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Social Anthropology. I enjoy being outdoors in every season, whether I am running, swimming or skiing. And to eat cake! I am grateful to be a part of the FNWM team and I look forward to this summer!"

We're excited to work with Tuva, teach her about the First Nations peoples of Canada, and get her out in communities!

The FNWM team is excited to introduce one of our our newest team members! Sarah Cockle recently joined the team as a Junior Pathfinder, and will be working with us throughout the summer. Check out her bio below!

"Having been born and raised in Winnipeg, I have always had a great appreciation for Manitoba. Many childhood road trips were spent exploring the province and visiting family in Snow Lake and Flin Flon. As I got older, my passion for the environment only grew, leading me to pursue a Bachelors of Environmental Studies, which I just finished up this spring. My studies have taught me how important it is to respect, consult, and work with First Nation communities, especially when it comes to the environment. My previous work experience has been primarily in the aquatic sciences, so protecting Manitoba’s lakes is a large part of my enthusiasm for working in this field. I’ve worked in both the prairie and arctic regions, going from helping to protect Manitoba from Zebra Mussels & other invasive species, to working onboard a research vessel off the coast of Qikiqtarjuaq, NU. I’m looking forward to everything I’m going to learn this summer at the Green Action Centre!"

We're excited to work with Sarah and look forward to bringing her out to communities.

John Samson Fellows and Laura Cameron (CAT's director) in the Free Press talking about 50-50 funding and John's new song about public transit.

A tune for transit: Winnipeg musician brings love for the bus to new song with message to province.

"The lyrics of 50/50 Funding imagine a rosy future in which better transit funding leads to a greener and friendlier Manitoba.

'Buses are a place where community happens,” Samson Fellows says. “And the environmental aspect is very appealing to me. We need to eliminate fossil fuels from our lives and the only way to do that is to do so together, to travel together.'"

Link to article in the comments below.

Photo credit: MIKAELA MACKENZIE from The Winnipeg Free Press

🍕Can you recycle pizza boxes with grease on them?

Some grease is okay, but if most of the box has dark stains, it can’t go in your blue bin. Check this guide and use your best judgement the next time you encounter a greasy pizza box.

Most of the time the lid is good enough, unless you store it upside down.
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Word of the Week!
Honeysuckle 🍯🏵
Honeysuckle flowers add vibrant splashes of color from late spring to early summer. These fragrant blooms, known for their tubular shape and sweet nectar, attract a host of pollinators, including hummingbirds and bees. Manitoba's honeysuckle varieties, ranging from the native bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) to the climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), thrive in the province's varied ecosystems, from forests to gardens. Its presence supports a myriad of local wildlife, offering both nourishment and shelter. In contrast, the invasive Tatarian honeysuckle species, though visually similar, poses a formidable challenge. With its aggressive growth and adaptability, it disrupts the delicate balance of biodiversity, outcompeting native flora and altering habitats.

From May 31st - June 6th, Manitobans are taking the challenge to make their commute more sustainable - and we've got the tunes to keep you bopping from home to work or school. Keep an eye out for our playlist drop on Sunday for the first of three curated collections from your Green Action Centre team. 🎵🎧🚌

On May 27th, FNWM traveled out to Skownan First Nation to host a 4R Recycling Bingo in collaboration with the Waste Reduction team at Green Action Centre as well as Skownan's Public Works, Health Department, and BFI (Baby-Friendly Initiative). The community recently opened an Eco-Depot, and our team assisted with this event in order to educate community members about what they can now recycle at the depot.

The following day we hosted Waste Audits at the school, and got the chance to present our revamped Protecting Mother Earth presentation. Lead Pathfinder Mo assisted at the Eco-Depot with training and arranging 600 tires in neat rows for removal. Thanks to our friends in Skownan for the collaboration and hospitality, the trip was a great success!

On May 6th, FNWM hired the services of our friends at Mother Earth Recycling to travel to Minegoziibe First Nation to pick up mattresses from the Transfer Station. With the help of station workers they filled their truck with 63 mattresses, which they brought back to the city to dispose of properly. Big thanks to MER for their hard-work, and willingness to travel and work with our First Nations partners!