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This week's invasive species: Curlyleaf Pondweed

7/27/2017

This week’s invasive species is curlyleaf pondweed (Potomogeton crispus). This aquatic plant can grow in low light and low temperatures. Here are some interesting facts about the plant:

Native to: Eurasia, Africa, Australia
Look alikes: Largeleaf pondweed and claspingleaf pondweed
Identifying Features: Curlyleaf pondweed is a rooted submerged aquatic plant with greenish brown, wavy leaves.

Why it’s problematic: Curlyleaf pondweed forms very dense mats and therefore prevents other native species from thriving and maturing, as well as impeding recreational activities like swimming. When it decomposes, it reduces oxygen levels in the water, which is harmful for other aquatic species.

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This week's invasive species: Eurasian water-milfoil

7/20/2017

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This week’s invasive species is Eurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). This perennial aquatic plant has two look alikes- the native species northern water-milfoil and the invasive species parrot feather. The key difference between Eurasian water-milfoil and northern water-milfoil is that the latter has leaves with 11 or fewer leaf segments. Parrot feather has not yet been detected in Ontario. Here are some fast facts about the species:

Native to: Europe, Asia and Northern Africa
Identifying Features: Eurasian water-milfoil grows underneath the water’s surface and has 12 or more leaf segments. It has a small red flower that blooms in late July and early August.
Why it’s problematic: Eurasian water-milfoil out-competes other native species, resulting in a loss of biodiversity. It can also grow into very dense patches, creating stagnant water, which is attractive to mosquitoes. Decomposing plant results in reduced oxygen levels in the water which can kill fish.

Remember, if you think you have spotted Eurasian water-milfoil or any kind of invasive species, call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or make a report to EDDMapS Ontario at https://www.eddmaps.org/ontario/.

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Reconciliation Workshop at Perth’s Stewart Park Festival

7/18/2017

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Plenty Canada’s appearance at the Stewart Park Festival was another resounding success! Thank you, miigwetch, to everyone who came to visit the workshop provided by Plenty Canada and the Lanark County Neighbours for Truth and Reconciliation on the weekend. Attendees were invited to see the birch bark canoe building process in person, and talk with Larry, Chuck, and volunteers about our reconciliation projects, and the significance of the canoe to the culture of Indigenous peoples.

Similar to our July 3rd workshop, we invited people to anonymously write down what reconciliation means to them, and what they would like to see done about the issue. The responses were both varied and informative--check them out below!

What does reconciliation mean to you? What would you like to see done?

Equal education funding--a no brainer.
Growth
Not just tolerance of differences, but appreciation of differences.
Reconciliation begins with recognition--of lands rights, culture, and languages :)
We are all Treaty People--honour the Treaties.
Openness to changing preconception; fairness; put the question on Facebook and the website
Doing what is way overdue.
An endless search and journey into finding oneness of Being. We need to be giving and selfless, and contribute to goodness locally.
Reconciliation means that non-native population becomes informed about the numerous issues facing Canada’s first inhabitants, the origin of harms and their legacy, acceptance, understanding and the will to alter preconceived notions. Both ‘white’ and native groups need to revisit beliefs with a view to finding a path forward in today’s ever-changing world. Teach our children the history of our nation--the good, the bad, and the ugly. Start in our local schools.
Kairos blanket workshops, conducted in schools.
Native cultural days, in conjunction with Stewart festival--sacred dances, food, and crafts.
Doing more to contribute to reserves in need (i.e. adopt a community).
What’s the next step beyond reconciliation? (Atonement?)
Communication and the opportunity for understanding, coming together.

We will continue bringing communities together through further discussion at our events, reigniting the spirit of nation-to-nation dialogue and respect for each other, the land, and our future generations. Stay tuned for more of Plenty Canada’s events including the “Renewing our Friendship” event in Almonte August 19th, the Silver Lake Pow Wow August 26th and 27th, and our traditional feast in mid September.

Plenty Canada wants to hear what reconciliation means to you! Share your thoughts in a comment below.

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This week's invasive species: Garlic Mustard

7/13/2017

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This week's invasive species is garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). Here are some quick facts about the plant:

Native to: Europe
Other names: Sauce Alone, Hedge Garlic
Identifying Features: Garlic mustard is a biennial plant, meaning that it has a two year life cycle. In its first year, garlic mustard grows in the form of a dark green, kidney shaped rosette. Second year plants have triangular shaped leaves that produce a white flower in May. Garlic mustard is easy to identify as its young leaves emit a strong odor of garlic when crushed.
Why it’s problematic: Garlic mustard displaces many native plants such as trilliums and trout lilies, and also poses a threat to several Species at Risk, including American ginseng, drooping trillium and wild hyacinth. Therefore, the presence of garlic mustard results in a loss of biodiversity. In addition to this, when livestock eat the plant, their milk will taste like garlic, which renders it unusable.

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This week's invasive species: invasive Phragmites

7/6/2017

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This week’s invasive species is invasive Phragmites. This plant, like many other invasive species, has a native species look-a-like. However, there are some key differences to keep in mind when trying to tell them apart.

Other names: European common reed, common reed
Native to: Eurasia
Identifying Features: This species is a perennial grass that is generally found growing in areas near water, such as the beach or wetlands and can grow to 5 meters tall. Invasive Phragmites usually has a tan or beige stem with dense seedheads, whereas native Phragmites has more of a reddish-brown stem with much less dense seedheads. Invasive phragmites usually grows in very thick patches (up to 200 stalks per square meter), whereas as native Phragmites does not generally grow quite a densely as this. A good rule of thumb for identifying invasive Phragmites is if you come across a patch of the plant and do not have a clear view through to the other side because of its density, it is most likely invasive Phragmites.

Why it’s problematic: One of the big problems with invasive Phragmites is that it releases toxins into the soil which prevents surrounding plants from growing and thriving. It does not provide a good habitat or food source for animals, including several Species at Risk. In addition to this, invasive Phragmites grows into such dense patches that it crowds out other native species. All of these factors result in a loss of biodiversity.

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Reconciliation Sharing-Circle

7/4/2017

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Thank you, miigwetch, to everybody who attended our July 3rd canoe workshop! It was a wonderful afternoon of sharing and learning, featuring an opening ceremony, educational videos on biosphere reserves and invasive species, and a nature walk on the William Commanda trail. One of the most successful portions of our event was the sharing circle on reconciliation. We asked attendees to tell us what reconciliation meant to them, providing us with a wealth of informative and insightful responses.

This was an amazing realization of our event's main goal—to build relationships and a sense of understanding between local Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Check out the responses!

Understanding & action.
Learning about our history.
Collaboration.
Integrating all our histories into our teachings.
Abolition of private property.
Honouring responsibilities, and respect for different ways of knowing.
Sharing our individual strengths & learning to become a human family.
Listening.
Forgiveness.
Respect.
Being mindful.
Understanding.
One people.
Responsibility to the land.
Healing, respect for all creation.
Learning.
Role modelling for friends & family.
Passing positive messages to children.
Love & compassion.
Questioning ownership of land.
Sharing based on local needs as beginning steps.
Rewriting our history together.
Telling stories of people & land.
Treaties signed and those to come.
Communication, understanding of different ways of living on land.
Respect differences.
Communicate & speak frankly.
Respect for First peoples’ values, and respect for land as not just a source of resources.
Open minds—hearing stories, changing behaviours.
Listening to stories of trauma with love.
Educating ourselves.
Connecting with our hearts, with empathy & gratitude.
New ways of communicating with youth & adults.
Restitution & respect, giving back what was taken (land, cultural materials).
Reclaiming, passing on to children.
Complex, deep, hard to get one's head around it.
Every aspect of society has been colonized.
Nation to nation—learning to respect both ways of living, and drawing on the strengths of both.
Energy of new generations.
Can there be reconciliation? Hopeful for future generations.
Learning, sharing, understanding, nation-to-nation, common goals.
Following the Creator's original instructions.

Plenty Canada’s event in Lanark county was an act of reconciliation itself, and an important step to further the broader goal of reconciliation throughout Canada. Being able to come together in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding brings us all closer to building a nation that respects the rights of all communities, future generations, and the land we love.

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This week's invasive species: Curlyleaf Pondweed

This week's invasive species: Eurasian water-milfoil

Reconciliation Workshop at Perth’s Stewart Park Festival

This week's invasive species: Garlic Mustard

This week's invasive species: invasive Phragmites

Reconciliation Sharing-Circle

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This week's invasive species: Curlyleaf Pondweed

This week's invasive species: Eurasian water-milfoil

Reconciliation Workshop at Perth’s Stewart Park Festival

This week's invasive species: Garlic Mustard

This week's invasive species: invasive Phragmites

Reconciliation Sharing-Circle

Archives

Our Location

Donate toPlenty Canada

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Follow Us

Donate to
Plenty Canada