Agriculture and food systems at Schitsu'umsh Reservation

Agriculture and food sovereignty

UI Extension, Schitsu'umsh Reservation supports the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s food sovereignty initiatives through collaborative programming that honors traditional ecological knowledge while promoting sustainable food systems.

Farmers market

The One Sky One Earth Farmers Market was established in 2012 through the University of Idaho Extension, Schitsu’umsh Reservation office in partnership with the One Sky One Earth Food Coalition.

The farmers market runs June-September on Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. in Plummer on US-95, adjacent to the Gateway Café.
Products featured at the market include home-grown produce, handmade crafts and other goods.

This flagship agriculture program provides:

Community access: Serving over 1,200 adults and youth annually
Local food systems: Supporting local growers and food producers
Youth engagement: Opportunities for young people to participate as vendors and volunteers
Seasonal programming: Operating during growing season with special events throughout the year

Community gardening initiatives

Youth gardening programs

4-H youth gardening projects at Lakeside Elementary
Cloverbud gardening experiences for younger participants
Garden management and maintenance at the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department

Partnership gardening

Pumpkin planting and harvesting programs with Coeur d’Alene Tribal School and Lakeside Elementary
Collaboration with the Tribe’s Food Distribution and 2nd Harvest
Integration of traditional and contemporary growing practices

Traditional food systems

Cultural food programming

Support for traditional food gathering, preparation and preservation practices
Integration of traditional ecological knowledge in all programming
Partnership with Tribal elders and knowledge keepers
Connection to seasonal cycles and cultural practices

Educational outreach

Workshops on traditional food preparation methods
Information sharing about indigenous plants and their uses
Support for community food security initiatives

Partnerships and collaboration

Key partners:

Coeur d’Alene Tribe Natural Resources Department
Coeur d’Alene Tribe Food Distribution and 2nd Harvest
One Sky One Earth Food Coalition
Local school and community organizations

Regional connections:

Northwest Food Sovereignty Coalition participation
Inter-tribal food system development initiatives
Regional farmer and grower networks

Educational impact

Our agriculture programming provides:

Hands-on learning experiences connecting youth to food systems
Cultural education preserving traditional knowledge
Leadership development opportunities
Community engagement and service learning
Academic enrichment supporting STEM education

Learn more about our agriculture and food systems programming or contact us to get involved in community food sovereignty initiatives.

Resources and information

Seasonal programming calendar:

Spring: Garden planning and planting, salmon release programming
Summer: Farmers market operations, youth gardening activities
Fall: Harvest celebrations, traditional food gathering, Water Potato Awareness Week
Winter: Planning and preparation, indoor educational programming

Get involved:

Volunteer opportunities at the farmers market
Youth programming participation
Community garden involvement
Educational workshop attendance