Native Wise IN publications
Native Wise
– Wole Foods Co-op
Northland’s Native-run CSA sees peak first year
Native Wise LLC farmers David and Patra Wise partnered with AICHO to launch their first community-supported agriculture program in 2020, pivoting from farmers markets to CSA boxes during COVID-19. The collaboration delivered fresh produce to community members through locally grown “good medicine.”
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.
David Wise of Native Wise Foods brought twelve young bison back to Fond du Lac Reservation after Chief Buffalo appeared in his dream saying “bring my namesake back.” The article explores how these bison help restore depleted land while connecting to Wise’s grandmother’s teachings that “good food is good medicine,” and includes his plans for a Chief Buffalo Learning Center and traditional jerky recipe.
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.
With help from Tanka Fund, NRCS, and Whole Foods Co-op, we finally did it! New fields all fenced in and ready for the herd. David Wise has worked SO hard for this day!
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.
Native Wise LLC, AICHO, and Sawyer Community Center hosted the first Ojibwe Horse Club meeting to reintroduce the community to Ojibwe Spirit Horses, which nearly went extinct in the 1970s. The event featured professional horse training, traditional Ojibwe food, elder blessings, and education about establishing a foundation bloodline for these rare horses.
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.”
Visit Us
4020 Kari Rd.
Sawyer, MN 55780
Call Us
(218) 499-5038
(218) 565-1138