Across vast areas of the Northern Forest region, and following colonization, agricultural conversion and subsequent abandonment in the late 19th century, successional forests have established that are widely devoid of native herbaceous species, including several of cultural significance to Indigenous communities. Given the current extent of land fragmentation and known dispersal limitations of many of these plant species, active intervention is required to reestablish natural assemblages of forest understories across the region that will be resilient to global change. In consultation with leaders and knowledge holders from Haudenosaunee Nations, we will integrate traditional ecological knowledge of plant propagation with western restoration science to develop methods to restore forest understories. We will engage community volunteers and mentor Indigenous youth in the restoration and monitoring efforts. Importantly, we will build a community of practice to expand the restoration efforts regionally through information exchange and demonstration to other Indigenous Nations and the broader general public across the Northeast. Collectively, we will build the model and the movement to restore the impoverished understories of the Northern Forest.