Native Wise IN publications

Native-owned and operated farm in Sawyer specializing in sustainable, chemical-free production of vegetables, honey, maple syrup, and wild rice. Operating with pollinator-friendly practices and companion planting, they offer online ordering with nationwide shipping and partner with local co-ops and AICHO for CSA distribution.

AICHO and DanSan Creatives produced a video highlighting the Indigenous food sovereignty movement, featuring Native Wise LLC and the cultural significance of manoomin (wild rice) in Anishinaabe tradition. The video showcases how Indigenous food producers like David and Patra Wise are sustaining their communities through traditional foods, CSA programs, and intertribal food box initiatives during the pandemic.

David and Patra Wise of Native Wise farms welcomed two Lac La Croix Indigenous ponies to the Fond du Lac Reservation, marking the breed’s return to ancestral lands after near extinction in the 1970s when only four mares remained. The horses serve as cultural ambassadors to reconnect Ojibwe youth with their heritage, though the breed still faces genetic challenges with only 175 horses and 27 breeding stallions remaining.

U.S. Senator Tina Smith toured David and Patra Wise’s farm to discuss challenges facing Native farmers and small-scale agriculture. The visit highlighted issues like inadequate fencing standards for bison versus cattle, complex licensing requirements, and the need for policies that support small farmers as part of Smith’s work on a bipartisan “Native Farm Bill.”