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Indigenous Metis herbalist and educator with deep knowledge of wild, medicinal and edible plants that grow in everyday spaces. Leads people of diverse backgrounds in reconnecting to the Earth's wisdom through Indigenous ways of knowing and pedagogies. Author of Revered Roots: Ancestral Teachings and Wisdom of Wild, Edible, and Medicinal Plants. Created Earth Awareness Realized Through Health and Company in 2013 to share First Peoples' perspectives on wild, edible and medicinal plants, including plant identification walks, illustration and plant medicine workshops, homemade skin products, garden design consulting, and public speaking/team training. Descendant of Powhatan, Dakota, T'suu tina, Nakota, Cree, Nipissing, Dene and Anishinaabe peoples, mixed with French and Celtic ancestry; born and raised on Squamish lands near Vancouver.

Queer, neurodivergent visual artist living and working in Vancouver on the unceded, ancestral land of the Coast Salish people. Holds a BA in Psychology from the University of British Columbia. Brings over a decade of experience with local, community-focused non-profits in education, arts and culture to her current role as Operations Coordinator at VUFFF. Interested in the unique ways humans relate to the ecological communities they are part of, and how relationships with plants, animals, landscapes and waterways can be a portal to deeper, more meaningful connections with place.

Born in Mexico, calling Canada home for over two decades. Compassionate Counsellor and Community Worker, mother of two, whose path into counselling was shaped by lived experience and a desire to help others. Worked as a travel agent for 16 years before counselling, deepening her love of human connection. Passionate about social justice, equity, and using privilege to uplift others; believes kindness is a daily practice and that asking for help is a sign of courage, not weakness.

From the territory of the Innu in Saguenay, of French and Quebecois heritage. Spent twelve years co-managing an 'Organically Grown, Ethically Sewn' eco-clothing brand called Rabbit & Empee before studying permaculture at Seven Ravens Permaculture Academy on Salt Spring Island, with hands-on training in East Africa where she continues to work. Founder of REFARMERS.org, a grassroots organization supporting small-scale community-based food growing initiatives and land-based learning opportunities. Helped spark what is now VUFFF. Passionate about immersing her work in Indigenous ways of knowing and growing.

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Mujer mestiza from Cuba, of Yoruba, Taino and Spanish descent. Community builder, art historian and writer, and practitioner of conscious dreaming. Came to the unceded ancestral land of the Coast Salish people looking for freedom and found connection through plants and sky. Founder of Unfolding Senderos, a dreaming circle started in 2019; has led monthly new and full moon circles with Lori Snyder since 2020. Studied dreaming and plant medicine practices under traditional healers and medicine women and men from the Amazon, Andes, Mexico and Turtle Island.

Lifelong learner interested especially in zero-waste, food, gardening, and the natural world. Grateful to call the lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ people home. Has maintained a small vegetable garden everywhere she's lived and currently coordinates Hastings Community Centre Food & Garden Programs (more at linktr.ee/seasonsoffood).

Educator and environmental scientist with experience in forestry, ecology, and restoration. Holds a diploma in Forestry and a degree in Ecological Restoration from BCIT, and a Master of Education from Simon Fraser University. Currently Program Head in the Forest and Natural Areas Management program at BCIT, and co-founder of Echo Ecological, specializing in invasive plant removal and habitat restoration. Co-creator of the YouTube channel Interviews with Plants and co-author of the award-winning winter plant identification textbook Buds, Branches and Bark: A Guide to Winter ID in the Pacific Northwest.

Joe has lived in East Vancouver for 35 years. He retired from BCIT in 2025, where he worked as research liaison, led the bicycle committee, and watched the crows gathering in late afternoons before they headed over to the Still Creek roost. He first volunteered with VUFFF at Chenchenstway garden and has become very involved with Burrard View food forest, planting and stewarding the food forest.

He is a developing eco-artist, weaving ivy and willow, and creating lanterns with natural materials. Outside VUFFF, he is an engaged community volunteer with Still Moon Arts Society and the Everett Crowley Park Committee. He can be found in odd places in parks removing invasive English ivy and Himalayan blackberry, planting native plant species, tending to food forests, observing the birds, or out on his bike in all sorts of weather.

A Gitxsan and Nisga'a mother of 3 children, of the Fireweed House and the Killerwhale Clan. Indigenous Independent Cultural Facilitator with 3 years of training in Land and Lives around Indigenous Culture with the Resurfacing History Program coordinated by Jolene Andrew. This work has become her Healing Journey; grassroots teachings and knowledge are shared with her children. As a Gitxsan Refugee in the unceded territories of Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh, she does land-based work in the city and is an ambassador for Resurfacing History's teachings around Indigenous food and resources harvested in the city. She advocates with School Boards, City of Vancouver, and Vancouver Parks Board for Indigenous People to relearn culture on the lands and waterways they live on, and actively speaks on Reconciliation.

Creates educational, accessible and skill-building visual art activities for a variety of age groups. Art instructor for visual art, lantern, and origami workshops in Vancouver; Arts & Culture Coordinator at Collingwood Neighbourhood House since 2004. Has worked on unique lanterns for installations and instructed lantern workshops for the Still Creek Moon Festival and Winter Solstice Festival, and organizes visual art shows and annual artisan markets. Completed numerous community art projects on Vancouver's east side, including street banners, a fountain mosaic project, and community murals. Also Neighbourhood Cultural Network Developer for RCMAN (Renfrew Collingwood Multicultural Artists' Network) and loves growing food in community and guerilla gardening.

Traditional name Ta Ne Spa uth (Mother Bear). Blends Scottish, Irish, Sto:lo, and Metis ancestry, descended from Mary Mussel of the Skwah Nation; born in Calgary, rooted in East Vancouver raising five children. Since 2012 has supported downtown Eastside community members facing homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, including cultural workshops, networking events, and program development. Former Support Worker for women and children and program coordinator at the Aboriginal Mother Centre Society for six-plus years. Currently a board member of the Vancouver Urban Food Forest Foundation, and treasurer and founder of the Eagles Inspirit Protecting Indigenous Fathers Society.

Creative artist with a passion for photography, filmmaking and gardening. Uses her garden to explore how ecosystems connect, grow and thrive which inspires her artistic work. Enjoys hiking, learning about fungi, and is dedicated to making a positive impact on people and the planet.