First Nations Waste Minimization Program

Word of the Week!
Honeysuckle 🍯🏵
Honeysuckle flowers add vibrant splashes of color from late spring to early summer. These fragrant blooms, known for their tubular shape and sweet nectar, attract a host of pollinators, including hummingbirds and bees. Manitoba's honeysuckle varieties, ranging from the native bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) to the climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), thrive in the province's varied ecosystems, from forests to gardens. Its presence supports a myriad of local wildlife, offering both nourishment and shelter. In contrast, the invasive Tatarian honeysuckle species, though visually similar, poses a formidable challenge. With its aggressive growth and adaptability, it disrupts the delicate balance of biodiversity, outcompeting native flora and altering habitats.

From May 31st - June 6th, Manitobans are taking the challenge to make their commute more sustainable - and we've got the tunes to keep you bopping from home to work or school. Keep an eye out for our playlist drop on Sunday for the first of three curated collections from your Green Action Centre team. 🎵🎧🚌

On May 27th, FNWM traveled out to Skownan First Nation to host a 4R Recycling Bingo in collaboration with the Waste Reduction team at Green Action Centre as well as Skownan's Public Works, Health Department, and BFI (Baby-Friendly Initiative). The community recently opened an Eco-Depot, and our team assisted with this event in order to educate community members about what they can now recycle at the depot.

The following day we hosted Waste Audits at the school, and got the chance to present our revamped Protecting Mother Earth presentation. Lead Pathfinder Mo assisted at the Eco-Depot with training and arranging 600 tires in neat rows for removal. Thanks to our friends in Skownan for the collaboration and hospitality, the trip was a great success!

On May 6th, FNWM hired the services of our friends at Mother Earth Recycling to travel to Minegoziibe First Nation to pick up mattresses from the Transfer Station. With the help of station workers they filled their truck with 63 mattresses, which they brought back to the city to dispose of properly. Big thanks to MER for their hard-work, and willingness to travel and work with our First Nations partners!

Word of the Week!
Flowers 💐🌷🌺🌹🌼
May is the blooming season for the prairie crocus (or pasque flower) which is Manitoba's floral emblem. The prairie crocus has been Manitoba's flower for over a hundred years and was chosen by Manitoba school children in 1906! As our emblem, the crocus' name and likeness are common place on government publications and even in the private sector. Living Prairie Museum is the best place to see them in Winnipeg, but there is also Little Mountain Park, Bird’s Hill Park, and Spruce Woods Provincial Park. Crocuses can be found throughout southwestern Manitoba, wherever there are prairie landscapes or open meadows. South-facing slopes of hills are good places to look.

On May 1st, the FNWM team traveled out to Roseau River Anishinaabe First Nation to assist with an Earth Day community cleanup event hosted by our friends at the Roseau River Waste Transfer Station. Our team provided prizes, garbage bags, and gloves for the event. This is the 2nd year we’ve assisted with the spring cleanup, and we are always happy to visit and help out! Pathfinders helped with cleaning up the main highway and also managed to sneak in some refrigerant removal from fridges, freezers, and ACs while we were there!

Some community events our team is helping with at the end of the month ✨

May 12th is !

Today, we commemorate the Manitoba Act receiving Royal Assent on May 12, 1870, which paved the way for Manitoba to become Canada’s fifth Province, and the only province to be brought into Confederation by Indigenous Peoples.

was not officially recognized as the founder of Manitoba until more than 120 years later, though his sacrifice for minority rights and cultural cooperation remains at the heart of our province.

Visit https://www.mmf.mb.ca/metis-minute/manitoba-day to learn more about Manitoba Day.