by, for, with indigenous people, communities &...

By, For, With Indigenous People, Communities & Organizations

Jessica MclaughlinIndigenous Food Circle Coordinator

indigenouscircle@lakeheadu.ca

Dr. Charles LevkoeCanada Research Chair

in Sustainable Food Systemsclevkoe@lakeheadu.ca

Indigenous Food Circle Key Priorities

Establish meaningful relationship with settlers through food

Develop a regional, intergenerational networks to support connections through food systems

Improve Indigenous food security

Support Indigenous food sovereignty

Support the resurgence of Indigenous food networks across the region

Indigenous Food Circle Members

Health Anisnawbe Mushkiki

Ka-Na-Chi-HihWequedong Lodge

Thunder Bay District Health UnitThunder Bay Regional Health Sciences

Centre

Political Nishnawbe Aski Nation

Anishnabek Nation Ontario Native Woman’s Association

Fort William First NationMetis Nation of Ontario

Education Northern Nishnawbe Education Council

Shkoday Abinojiiwak ObimiwedoonKeewaytinook Okimakanik

Matawa KKETSDenis Franklin Cromarty

Lakehead University Food Council Lakehead University

Confederation College

Social Service Shelter House

Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre

Regional Food Distribution Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy

Eco Superior

Food Sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.

~ La Via Campesina

The Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy is committed to creating a healthy, equitable, and sustainable food system that contributes to the economic, ecological, and social well-being

and health of the city of Thunder Bay and Area.

Indigenous Food Circle Projects

Understanding Our Food Systems Phase I

(Dec-March 2018)

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase I

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase I

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase I

Community Food Planning begins…

Understanding Our Food Systems -Phase I

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase II (Sept-March 2019)

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase II

Community Visits (Findings)Food Production• Gardens• Greenhouses• Community Engagement

Community Store• Business Plan• Regional Food Sourcing• Cooperative Model

Community Food Hub• Retrofitting/Infrastructure • Programming• Workshops• Food Storage

Food-Security• Good Food Box• Food Bank• Local Food Connection• Distribution &

Transportation

Food Literacy Workshops• Community Nutrition• Cooking from Scratch• Using Food Production

Land-Based Initiatives• Wild Game Restrictions• Land Based Gatherings• Traditional Harvesting Skills

Environmental• Waste & Composting• Recycling• Management of Fisheries, Aerial Spraying,

Moose

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase II

January Gathering

https://vimeo.com/327324485/613d8471ca

https://vimeo.com/327324793/f96669283d

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase II

1. Engagement – Working for, and taking leadership from First Nations

2. Support – Identifying and providing knowledge and skills activities

3. Connection – Building and fostering relationships

4. Action/Knowledge Co-creation –Sharing experiences to develop new activities

5. Systems Lens – Contextualizing food systems work within larger political and socio-economic structures of oppression and colonization

Approach

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase II

Short Term

Action Planning

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase II

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase II

Community FoodSovereignty Visions

Understanding Our Food Systems - Phase II

Actions in Communities

• Control of all research and projects by, for, and with Indigenous People, Communities & Organizations in the North

• Establishment of a funding collaborative• Expand partnerships and collaborations • Develop new collaborative projects• Respond to organizational and community needs • Research on key issues • Support organizations and communities in their sovereignty

visions

Next Steps . . .

Self Determination

The process by which a country/nation determines its own statehood and forms its own allegiances and government.

Self-determination in Food Systems: The ability to respond to a community’s own needs for healthy, culturally adapted Indigenous foods. The ability to make decisions over the amount and quality of food that is hunted, fished, gathered, grown and eaten.

Autonomy

Indigenous peoples have control over their own development if they do not control their territory and its resources.

Place Based Education or development that is rooted in what is local—the unique history, environment, culture, economy, literature, and art of a particular place—that is, in students' own "place" or immediate schoolyard, neighborhood, town or community.

Key Things to Remember

• Settler Colonialism

• Cultural Genocide

• Land Acquisition

• Resurgence

Chi Miigwech