Wihnemne School Forest: Visiting with Our Ancestors

The Alberta Motor Association provided funding for the Wihnemne School Forest. AMA Community Foundation will be taking on similar projects in partnership with Project Forest. Please reach out to us if you’re interested in contributing to a meaningful project like this.

The connection between children and nature is powerful, but it’s also increasingly at risk as our province’s landscape shifts. As a proud partner of the endeavour “Wihnemne School Forest: Visiting with Our Ancestors,” AMA worked with the non-profit Project Forest to create a food and medicine forest for the young students of Paul First Nation’s K-9 school. The new forest features nearly 600 seedlings, including culturally significant indigenous plants that will be tended by local youth.

Guided by Paul First Nation, this project aims to support the exchange of traditional knowledge among students, teachers and three generations of elders.

“We value our partnerships with companies who share our appreciation for nature, its beauty and everything it has to teach us,” says Faron Bull, Paul First Nation Councilman.

“Reclaiming the land around the school grounds gives the children even more learning opportunities, which is priceless. As the trees grow, the children will also grow in so many ways.” Jane Flower, vice-president of corporate purpose at AMA, says supporting the food and medicine forest was a natural fit for the Association. “We’re passionate about protecting what matters most to our members—and that certainly includes the environment and the future generations of Albertans who’ll inhabit it.”

The “Wihnemne School Forest: Visiting Our Ancestors” is an initiative above and beyond AMA’s existing pledge to rewild 100 hectares of land by our centennial in 2026. These “forever forests” will include 200,000 new trees across the province, helping support biodiversity and cleaner air.