Sundance Harvest Farm

1

Cheyenne Sundance, Founder and Farmer

“Independence is growing food. Being able to sustain yourself. Without this, there is no liberation.”

Cheyenne Sundance is the "founder of a revolutionary justice-centered farm in Toronto called Sundance Harvest that provides guidance for youth to start their own food and land sovereignty movements, create their own urban farming practice, and eradicate institutionalized racism within the food system."

Sundance. who grew up in Canada, faced frequent food insecurity during her childhood. Across Canada, more than 4.4 million people live in a state of uncertainty around their next meal. A disproportionate number of these people are Black and Indigenous. Worldwide, most black and indigenous farmers do not own the land they have cultivated across generations. Discriminatory lending practices, exclusion from legal protection and land title access are all barriers to land sovereignty.

While visiting Cuba, Sundance witnessed the power of community gardening in a self-sustaining rural village. The experience gave rise to her dream of brining food sovereignty to marginalized communities in Ontario, Canada. She established 'Growing in the Margins' a free urban agriculture education program for low-income black, indigenous, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities to help alleviate the high rates of food insecurity as well as social isolation and mental health challenges faced in these communities. After completing the program, the graduates are offered resources such as land and seeds for their own farms.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Cheyenne has taken further actions to support hard-hit marginalized communities. The number of food-insecure households has grown drastically since the beginning of the pandemic and has led to an increased demand for “food independence” - the ability for people to be able to grow food for themselves and their community. In response to these concerns, Cheyenne has organized “Liberating Lawns” a yard sharing project that matches trained food growers with landholders so both can benefit.

https://www.sundanceharvestfarm.com/

Facebook

Instagram