Tl'íi'aal Túuk'aanee | Tl'laal Iinasdll Daanaay (Fireweed Farm)
The Council of the Haida Nation acquired the Riverworks Farm on September 16, 2024, which is located at 36248 Highway 16, Tllaal Tlell, or just south of the soccer fields. CHN acquired this property strategically with a vision of building an Indigenous food sovereignty project to help strengthen food security, build knowledge, share teachings of how to grow food, and to propagate cultural plants for food, medicine and other cultural uses. This 22-acre fee-simple property features pasture areas, two rental homes, a small rustic cabin, an auto shop, covered barn areas, and a beautiful perimeter trail that surrounds the property.
Since 2024, CHN has been renting the main house and lane way home to tenants, and has constructed 6 greenhouses, built fencing, propagated and started growing food plants and has given the farm a new name Tl'íi'aal Túuk'aanee | Tl'laal Iinasdll Daanaay Fireweed Farm. This name is to acknowledge the area of Tllaal, and the future plans to plant and nurture culturally significant plants like tl'íi'aal | tl'laal fireweed, on the property. CHN hired two local full-time contractors in 2025 who have extensive experience with agriculture, growing food and perma-culture to start up the Indigenous food sovereignty project who have done an immense amount of work, propagating plants, building fencing and greenhouses, ordering supplies, and in helping scope out what is needed to get this farm going once again. We are grateful for all of their knowledge sharing and expertise so far!
History
Previous owners, Wendy and Bill McKay, developed the area as a mid-sized, organic permaculture farm, called “Riverworks Farm” that had been in operation for more than 2 decades. They were able to supply large quantities of organic food to local markets.
Food Sovereignty
Being an isolated island nation, we rely heavily on the ferry to provide adequate produce. Due to the travel time to get to Haida Gwaii, or cancelled ferries, sometimes the produce is lacking. That’s why the local markets have been great to access locally grown foods throughout Haida Gwaii. Bringing back our permaculture history to life once again. We look forward to operating this farm owned by the Haida Nation and providing good food back to the communities. We are looking forward to having a dedicated space to teaching youth and anyone interested in how to grow food and provide opportunities to propagate cultural plants that were cultivated in the past.
Future Planning
With the farm just getting started in 2026, there is so much to do! Critical infrastructure has been built in 2026, however we are planning to build much more, including exploring renewable energy options, rainwater collection, animal husbandry (chicken farm), and developing an Indigenous food forest on site to cultivate culturally significant plants.
Want to work on the farm? As of May 11, 2026, there have been two jobs posted for a Full-Time Farm Manager and a Seasonal Farm Worker. Not able to support full-time? There is a volunteer opportunity as a Farm Worker to help with planting, field/garden maintenance, harvest and wash/pack, and general farm clean-up. CHN plans to host an open house for community members to visit the farm in August. Keep an eye out for more information about the open house on CHN’s app, website and social media!
