Lambton College has partnered with Aamjiwnaang on a project aimed at enhancing biodiversity and preserving traditional knowledge at the First Nation.
College Vice President of Research and Innovation Dr. Mehdi Sheikhzadeh said Aamjiwnaang faces a decline in biodiversity and invasive plant species due to developmental impacts.
He said they're looking to rectify the problem by identifying native plants significant to the First Nation.
"This was an exciting opportunity that came actually from the collaboration between Aamjiwnaang and one of the industries in Sarnia-Lambton, and they brought it to our attention," said Sheikhzadeh. "The initial discussion started about a year and a half ago. We met with Aamjiwnaang and their team plus the consultants that they have. We came to the conclusion that Lambton College definitely has the capacity to support this. The college has a bioindustrial process research centre that was established years ago. It's been very active in working with many industries around biotechnology projects. This biodiversity project was nicely aligned with some of the expertise and infrastructure that we have at the college."
Sheikhzadeh said they will explore differences in species between the soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation, to get an understanding of the land's unique characteristics.
He said the project will also focus on potential rehabilitation sites within the community, noting there are three specific goals.
"We want to gain insights into the unknown soil seed bank characteristics across various plant community types and land uses," he said. "We're looking to guide plant species selection and site management strategies for sustainable land restoration. We also want to establish a collection of target plant seeds adapted to the local environment for use in site rehabilitation."
Sheikhzadeh knows the land holds immense cultural, environmental, and spiritual significance for Indigenous communities.
He said the project will create pollinator or food/medicine gardens, and explore economic opportunities through the potential establishment of an Indigenous Plant Nursery.
It will also support the preservation of culture and knowledge, disseminating information among community members, including the youth.
It's hoped the results of the collaboration will serve as a valuable blueprint for other First Nation communities in Ontario facing similar biodiversity challenges.
The project is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), in collaboration with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) – College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF).
