Treeplanting at Henteleff Park / Arbor Day
If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes a community to protect a forest! 
The Manitoba Eco-Network was proud to be a part of the Henteleff Park Annual Tree Planting / Arbor Day Event organized by Trees Winnipeg.
The event was opened up by Knowledge Seeker Duncan Mercredi, who spoke about his connection to the forest as a young child growing up in Misipawistik Cree Nation (Grand Rapids), where the woman controlled the village and so the men sometimes had to go out into the forest. Knowledge Seeker Mercredi also spoke about how the medicines that could once be found in those forests are no longer available due to the impacts from hydro-electric developments.
In attendance was Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and MLA for Rield Mike Moyes, MP for Winnipeg South Terry Duguid, and St. Norbert-Seine River Winnipeg City Councillor Markus Chambers, as all three levels of government support Henteleff park in different ways. The province was the main sponsor of the event, the Federal Government assists with funding for summer student positions, and the park is owned by the City of Winnipeg and managed by the Henteleff Park Foundation.
It was great to speak to some of the local community members about the history of fighting to protect this important urban oasis from development. The tree planitng event coincided with the Birthday of the late Yude Henteleff, who was instrumental in protecting the park from developement and establishing the Henteleff Park Foundation in the 1990s.
We need dense urban development interspersed with green space. It is not one or the other that we need, but rather the two working together.
It was great to see other organizations out at the event including CPAWS Manitoba Chapter, Green Drop, and Caring For Our Environment Manitoba Inc.
It was also great that the Manitoba Eco-Network could travel in style that day with a new electric car thanks to the benefits of Peg City Car Co-op membership. Thanks #pegcitycarcoop
