The environment Department has been created to promote engagement and relationship-building with various organizations and to allow for the voices of CFN members to be heard on important projects that may impact our traditional territory.

Past Events and Programs

Community Knowledge Keeper and NationsConnect

In late 2023, the Department initiated NationsConnect and Community Knowledge Keeper (CKK), Kwusen’s consultation and digital archives platform developed for and by First Nations across Turtle Island. In 2024-2025, department staff received orientation and training on using the system. The Caldwell Consultation Tool proved insufficient to handle the volume and nature of many of our files, not the least of which is the development of consultation records, leading to our retirement and archiving of the Tool in 2024. All staff are receiving ongoing training and we hope for it to be in full use replacing most external emails and generating automatic logs and consultation records. CKK also acts as a repository for traditional knowledge about the Territory, and can function as a library of family records, species records, and language knowledge.

Manoomin Newsletter Launch 

​In April 2024, we published our first issue of Manoomin, our new independent monthly Department newsletter. Manoomin is designed to give Caldwell citizens a look into the activities of our Department. In the Summer issues, we covered department environmental activities such as musseling and visits to conservation biology conferences, as well as consultation items such as Hydro One lines and a dock expansion in Windsor. Manoomin represents one of our strategies to provide the community with more information on what the Department does, and so we’re publishing a magazine-grade issue every month that will be available online, by Constant Contact email blasts, and physically at the Band Office, Gas Station, and by mailing list.

Land Restoration - Environmental Stewardship and Habitat Restoration

​The Department is diligently working to enhance our region's ecological health through habitat restoration projects. These initiatives are central to our environmental stewardship efforts, focusing on re-establishing native flora and fauna crucial for biodiversity and the long-term resilience of our ecosystems.

A key aspect of our work involves the creation of ecological corridors. These vital connections link fragmented habitats, facilitating wildlife movement and plant seed dispersal. This strategic approach helps maintain genetic diversity within species populations and enables our ecosystems to adapt to environmental changes, ultimately fostering a thriving natural environment for current and future generations.

Thanks to grant funds, the Department has successfully maintained and expanded initiated habitats, including forests, meadows, and wetlands, alongside a series of trails. This initiative is deeply rooted in our commitment to protecting and revitalizing our natural heritage and cultural practices intertwined with the landscape. We are creating a sustainable and safe space that will support our community for generations, which includes establishing seed orchards and reintroducing native plant species that are not only crucial to the ecosystem but also hold significant cultural value as traditional foods, medicines, and ceremonial plants. Furthermore, we are actively improving habitats through community partnerships. These collaborative efforts include the installation of bat boxes, engaging community events, seed spreading, tree and plug planting, and thorough photo documentation of our progress. We invite all community members to participate in these initiatives and witness the positive impact of our collective efforts.

Land Guardians 

The Land Guardians received around 245 project notifications from CKK and email correspondence. Guardians acquired training in source water protection, invasive Phragmites removal, mussel sampling, grant writing, oil spill response, contaminated sites management, and Geographic Information System (GIS). The Guardians also attended conferences like the North American Conference on Conservation Biology, Guardians of the Land Symposium, and Indigenous Great Lakes Networking Annual Meeting. Over the course of the year, there was a total of 13 training and conferences which the Guardians participated in. The Guardians coordinated 10 various community engagements such as input sessions on major projects, Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, and species of interest to the community. 

The Guardian successfully secured an Invasive Species Control Fund grant for Phragmites removal planning on CFN lands. Additionally, the Land Guardians collaborated with other Three Fires First Nations on ceremonies, knowledge sharing, and gatherings on the land several times throughout the year. On a weekly basis, the Guardians conducted land work such as site visits to Ojibway National Urban Park candidate lands, translocated Willowleaf Aster, collected seeds, mapped invasive plants, and performed stewardship on Caldwell restoration lands. 2024-2025 also saw the initiation of our Department’s Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority Environmental Monitoring program (Guardians and FLRs) in January.

Carbon Monitoring Research Team 

​The Carbon Monitoring Research Team was fully hired in September 2024 and began their soil carbon study in partnership with Western University. The team collected 190 samples from CFN restoration lands, and during the winter months worked diligently in the lab grinding those samples and conducting various tests. They also participated in a variety of restoration initiatives and participated in carbon monitoring training with Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and World Wildlife Fund. 

Water Guardians and CFN Coastal Monitoring 

​In September, 2024 our Department welcomed Steve Simpson Sr. as Caldwell First Nation’s first official Water Guardian. Steve’s portfolio will include environment projects across the Territory that involve coastal wetlands and rivers, but he will also focus on forming partnerships to improve the health of the Territory’s sacred waters and Caldwell’s inherent jurisdiction over Lake Erie. As the team expands, the Water Guardians’ major portfolios include developing a team to initiate Lake Erie’s first Indigenous Coastal Monitoring program, including lake patrols and surveys, water safety, and community engagement to enhance members’ presence on the Lake.

Field Liaison Representative Program 

​Our Field Liaison Representative (FLR) Program had its busiest season in Caldwell history in 2024-2025, registering around 100 projects and thousands of staff hours across 10 different staff. All FLRs had numerous opportunities for new training and enrichment activities, and we sent two of our senior FLR staff to Newfoundland to represent Caldwell at the annual Canadian Archaeology Association conference.