From the Northern Forest to Your Cup: The Boreal Heartland Story

Boreal Heartland began in 2017 in the northern Saskatchewan community of Air Ronge, on Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 territories. Created through the Keewatin Community Development Association (KCDA), a long-standing northern nonprofit, the brand was developed to build meaningful and sustainable economic opportunities for people living in the region.

The idea was rooted in a simple but powerful truth: the boreal forest is rich, abundant, and full of nourishing plants. Boreal Heartland set out to honour that natural abundance by transforming wild herbs, botanicals, and mushrooms into high-quality products — all while supporting local harvesters and maintaining a deep respect for the land.

Mission & Philosophy

Boreal Heartland’s mission is shaped by a strong commitment to northern communities, cultural respect, and environmental stewardship. The brand is dedicated to:
Creating sustainable income and economic opportunity for Indigenous and northern residents.
Highlighting the boreal forest as a source of nourishment, medicine, and cultural heritage.
Practicing responsible, respectful harvesting rooted in Indigenous knowledge and traditional values.
The business receives guidance from an Indigenous advisory board, ensuring that harvesting and processing practices reflect cultural teachings, community priorities, and land-based respect.

What Makes Boreal Heartland Unique

Wild-harvested and hand-picked
Around 75 harvesters — many of them Indigenous — gather herbs and mushrooms from throughout northern Saskatchewan, often on traditional lands or family traplines.
Fair, flexible income for communities
Harvesters are paid by the pound, offering seasonal work that can support families, elders, and youth entering their first jobs.
Sustainable harvesting practices
The brand follows the “rule of thirds”: one-third for regeneration, one-third for wildlife, one-third for harvesting — ensuring long-term forest health.
Local processing and quality control
Every herb and mushroom is processed close to home in Air Ronge in a fully licensed facility committed to safety, traceability, and product integrity.
Cultural respect at the heart of the brand
Traditional knowledge, Indigenous teachings, and deep land-based relationships shape all aspects of their work.

Why Boreal Heartland Matters in the Canadian Marketplace

Boreal Heartland offers a thoughtful approach to product creation by focusing on wild-harvested botanicals, sustainable gathering practices, and community involvement. Their work highlights the cultural importance of the boreal forest and the role it plays in northern food traditions.
For customers who appreciate transparency, meaningful sourcing, and products connected to place, Boreal Heartland provides an option grounded in real stories and local knowledge. Their teas, herbs, and mushrooms reflect both the land they come from and the people who harvest them.
Their presence in the market adds representation for northern communities and helps preserve land-based practices that might otherwise be overlooked, offering a perspective that is uniquely tied to Canada’s northern regions.

A Final Thought: A Sip of the North

Every sip of Boreal Heartland tea or every dish made with their wild herbs carries the story of the North. It carries the hands of Indigenous harvesters, the wisdom of elders, the strength of communities, and the quiet resilience of the forest.
Supporting this brand means supporting sustainable harvesting, northern livelihoods, and the continuation of traditions that have been passed down for generations. It’s more than a product — it’s a connection to the land.

Shop Tu-Bees at northerncart.ca/brand/borea-heartland/ and discover why this prairie-born honey brand is creating a real buzz across Canada.