Illustration of an Indigenous woman standing sadly by a snowy lake holding grass.

Standing alone on the shore of the lake in a light cold breeze holding the so called "Invasive marsh grass", she is sobbing. Aiyana, one of the left descendants of the First Nation community of Kawartha lakes. She has been planting the sacred seed since her youth with her father, but now the cottagers are continuously restricting its growth as well as its plantation. Once, her father told her that manoomin had an integral cultural significance, that is why she is determined to continue growing it. Tomorrow, Aiyana will continue to plant the sacred seed, she will continue the struggle of reclaiming the rights inherent to her culture and the path toward sovereignty on her territory and resources. See more