Our Stories

At Medavie, we believe in building healthy, vibrant communities. Through the Medavie Foundation we work closely with organizations whose work is connected to three key focus areas: healthy living, post-traumatic stress, and youth mental health. 

When it comes to healthy living, the Foundation supports projects that improve community-centered food systems and improve access to physical activity. This includes accessible outdoor spaces, community gardens, urban farms, and community kitchens, among others.

As we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Medavie, we invite you to learn more about one of the Foundation’s partners: Tkà:nios – It Grows. This inspiring organization is advancing Haudenosaunee food sovereignty.
 

Tkà:nios was born from community conversations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when concerns about food shortages raised important questions about self-sufficiency. Guided by Elders, seed keepers, and medicine women, Tkà:nios began working to restore traditional food knowledge and strengthen Kahnawà:ke’s foodways.

Today, Tkà:nios is growing a vision for a community food hub where agriculture, education, ceremony, and cultural teachings come together. Future plans include:

• a medicine garden
• seed storage
• food processing spaces
• gathering places for workshops and ceremonies

“It’s not just about growing food,” Brooke explains. “It’s about cultivating belonging, memory, and healing.”

These efforts align closely with Kahnawà:ke’s long-term Community Wellness Plan, which recognizes environmental stewardship, land, and food sovereignty as key factors in Indigenous health. The plan notes:

“There is a need for increased local food production, traditional food practices, and access to resources to ensure community wellbeing.”

A holistic approach to community wellness

Tkà:nios is helping to meet these goals through its educational programs, seed saving, cultural ceremonies, and intergenerational workshops.

For the Medavie Foundation, Tkà:nios represents a holistic model of community health. 

As Tkà:nios continues to grow, support from the Medavie Foundation will help bring their vision to light. Upcoming plans include:

• building a communal gazebo for learning and gathering
• improving irrigation and water management systems
• hiring two part-time seasonal staff to support the project’s growth
• expanding cultural programming, the medicine garden, and the variety of foods grown and shared

For Brooke and the Tkà:nios team, the goal is sustainability—not just of food, but of relationships, culture, and health. 

A movement beyond food

While Tkà:nios is deeply rooted in Kahnawà:ke, its impact reaches far beyond. By reclaiming traditional food systems, the initiative contributes to cultural renewal, environmental stewardship, and community vitality. 

Tkà:nios reminds us that food is more than just sustenance—it’s a way to reconnect with identity, strengthen relationships, and build a healthier future for generations to come.

 “Tkà:nios shows us that when a community has the opportunity to reconnect with its land and culture, the outcomes can be profound.” - Andrea Elliott, Medavie’s Director of Social Responsibility and the Medavie Foundation

Connect with Tkà:nios on Facebook or Instagram to follow their journey.