Sharing Our Food Stories

2013
Conference
Report
Sharing Our Food Stories
Food Matters Manitoba
Unit 4, 640 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0X3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Food Matters Manitoba would like to thank the members of the committee for their time and
dedication to the overall vision and planning of the event, along with sharing many of the tasks required
for the day’s organization.
PLANNING COMMITTEE:
Jennell Majeran, Northern Healthy Foods Initiative, [email protected]
Amber Johnson, Northern Healthy Foods Initiative, [email protected]
Natalie Wowk-Slukynsky, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, [email protected]
Lori Rudolph-Crawford, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, [email protected]
Leon Simard, Four Arrows Regional Health Authority, [email protected]
Chloe Donatelli, Food Matters Manitoba, [email protected]
Raquel Koenig, Food Matters Manitoba, [email protected]
EVENT SUPPORT AND PARTNERS:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Event Overview
4
Conference Agenda
5
Sessions & Presenters
6
Summary of Conference Activities
7
Evaluation Feedback
8
Conference Demographics
9
Community Participants
10
Participant Responses to Group Activities
12
EVENT OVERVIEW
The Sharing Our Food Stories pre-Conference
event was held on February 28th, 2013. The
event was expanded from the previous year’s
half-day session and was held from 8:30 am
until 3:30 pm at the Marlborough hotel. The day
offered a chance for participants to come
together to learn about, listen to and share
traditional food stories and knowledge.
The morning included a keynote address from
Gerry Mason, a Native studies/outdoor
educator at Charles Sinclair School (Fisher River
Cree Nation); a presentation from the
Nishnawbe Aski Nation on their food security
strategy; and a presentation by Chloe Donatelli
on Raquel Koenig’s Manitoba Traditional Foods
Initiative Planning and Resource Development
Project.
The afternoon provided a space for participants
to share their own experiences with traditional
foods and learn from each other.
The gathering was attended by a total of 76
participants.
The 2013 Sharing Our Food Stories was funded
by First Nations Inuit Health and the Northern
Healthy Foods Initiative and was organized by
Food Matters Manitoba.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
8:30 - 9:00am
Registration & Networking
9:00 - 9:30am
Opening Prayer - Frances Desjarlais
Opening Remarks:
Pam Smith - A/Regional Director, First Nation and Inuit Health Branch
Harvey Bostrom - Deputy Minister, Aboriginal & Northern Affairs
9:30 - 10:15am
Keynote Speaker - Gerald Mason
10:15 - 10:45am
Networking & Activity Break - Elizabeth Proskurnik
10:45 - 11:15am
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Food Strategy - Joseph Leblanc and Wendy
Tylinksky
11:15 - 12:00pm
Manitoba Traditional Foods Initiative Planning & Resource
Development Project - Raquel Koenig
12:00 - 1:00pm
Traditional Lunch
1:00 - 2:00pm
Sharing Our Food Stories - Interactive Small Group Table Sessions
2:00 - 2:15pm
Nourishment Break
2:15 - 3:15pm
Sharing Our Food Stories - Presentations to larger group/discussion, etc.
3:15 - 3:30pm
Wrap-up, Evaluation & Closing Prayer
SESSIONS AND PRESENTERS
The conference sessions were formatted in a way that
allowed for presentations in the morning and semistructured table sharing in the afternoon.
Leon Simard from Four Arrows Regional Health Authority
served as the Master of Ceremonies.
A summary of the mornings presentations are as follows:
The morning’s keynote address was given by Gerald (Gerry) Mason, who spoke about the land-based
classes at Charles Sinclair School (Fisher River Cree Nation) that he has been instrumental in organizing.
Wendy Tylinksky and Joseph Leblanc, from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), presented on the NAN
food security strategy.
Chloe Donatelli, on behalf of Raquel Koenig, presented on the Manitoba Traditional Food and Resource
Planning Initiative.
In the afternoon session, discussion questions and activities from the Decolonizing your Diet chapter in
the book, For Indigenous Eyes Only: A Decolonization Handbook (Wilson & Bird, 2005), were distributed
to each table and participants had an hour to discuss these activities together.
Following this period of time, participants from each table were invited to share the pertinent points
from their discussion.
SUMMARY OF DAY’S ACTIVITIES
Moneca Sinclaire, Manitoba Alternative Food Research Alliance
The day began with Leon Simard introducing everyone to the conference and introducing Frances
Desjarlais to start the day with an opening prayer. Frances set the stage for the day when she said in the
opening prayer, “We walk hand-in-hand to work together to help our communities.”
This was followed by greetings from Pam Smith and Harvey Bostrom who both emphasized the
importance of partnerships to move the projects forward.
The key note address was given by Gerald Mason who shared the story of eating traditional food where
he thought “baloney” was a treat. His family would only go to the store to buy salt, flour and tea.
Everything they ate was from the land. Gerald didn’t know how significant this lifestyle was until he
reflected on what he had learned from his grandparents. As he thought about this, he wanted the youth
to also learn what he had learned--how to get food from the land through trapping, hunting, fishing and
foraging. The words that hit home were when he said, “It is important to carry the knowledge into the
future.” The future is now with our youth and what are we going to tell them when they ask, “What
traditional food did you eat?” I want them to say, “Moose and berries, not canned this or that.”
Joseph Le Blanc described the strategy for Nishinaabe Aski Nation (NAN) where he spoke about the six
pillars. He described food security form an Indigenous perspective as sharing not just food but sharing
the knowledge, collaborate with community members, it is more than just food and eating but it is
having an economy of sharing, sharing knowledge and culture. Joseph describes food sovereignty as,
“having a life free from stress when you know where your food has come from and know that the
economy of sharing will return.” When you share, “Then you will be a rich person.”
Following Joseph, Chloe Donatelli described the traditional food planning and resource development
project written by Raquel Koenig. Chloe described similar ideas of how food security is evolving from
handing out food to empowering people to grown their own food. And in that process community is
being restored, people are gathering together to share their knowledge for example the Goose camp at
Fox Lake where youth are working with the Elders; communal freezer programs are occurring to having
land based education programs.
The day ended with community members sharing the stories of what they were doing in their
community.
The word used throughout the day was sharing or what the government coins “collaboration.” Without
sharing or collaboration how will people teach, especially the young, who need this because in the end it
is not just about food but getting back to who we are—proud Indigenous people that have a culture
based and tied to the land. And in the end it will help our communities and in turn create food secure
communities.
EVALUATION FEEDBACK
The most prevalent response across the
evaluations was one of general approval and
positivity regarding the day. The average rating
score participants gave the event was 4.3 out
of 5.
points, information on access to display books
and more specific information/pictures on other
communities).
There was also a lot of response to the last
question (What topics would you like more
information on to support your food security
work) around hands-on-skills (working with
rough soil, gardening generally, growing fruit,
cooking with traditional foods and
transplanting).
Comments
Next to general approval, the most prevalent
answers were clustered around the enjoyment
of the interactive, roundtable sharing sessions.
A number of people also expressed specific
interest in learning about other communities
and the different initiatives and challenges
within the communities.
For areas for improvement, the only cluster of
answers, apart from nothing specified, was
around access to information, with a range of
specific requests including access to power
“Meeting and networking with people in other
communities was great.”
“This was a great way to start a two day
conference. I really enjoyed myself.”
“I liked learning about how our communities all
have similar successes and challenges and how
each community resolves their own challenges.”
“Enjoyed the information from this morning.
Gerry was excellent at sharing what they are
doing back in their community.”
“Excellent! Grateful for the sharing!
CONFERENCE DEMOGRAPHICS
The majority of attendees at the session were members of Northern and First Nation communities
around Manitoba (66%).
Participants from Winnipeg who felt attending the session would be beneficial to their work were also
invited to attend.
As a result, there was a diverse array of organizations, such as Food Secure Canada, Harvest Moon
Collective, Manitoba Alternative Food Research Alliance, and Heifer Canada, in attendance.
Breakdown of demographics:
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51 % were Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative
workers
16 % were Northern Healthy Foods Initiative
community food champions
34% of attendees were from Winnipeg or
outside of the province
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS
Alec Keno
Alfred Pruden
Amber Johnson
Anthony Max Bone
Arnold McDougall
Audrey Ballantyne
Barry Magnusson
Betsy Ouskan
Beverly Knott
Bev Lockert
Blair Hudson
Brenda Hather
Brigitte Lamoureux
Byron Beardy
Carol Cochrane
Carol Sanoffsky
Cheyanne Mason
Chloe Donatelli
Daniel Gladu Kanu
Kathryn Mckenzie
Demian Lawrenchuk
Diana Bronson
Doreen Sumner
Eilleen Nepitabo
Eileen Personias
Elaine Ferland
Elenor Erickson
Elizabeth McKay
Elizabeth Proskurnik
Frances Desjarlais
Gerald Mason
Gladys Crow
Jaclyn Yuzicappi
Jeff Easter
Jennifer Linklater
Jerry Knott
Jessica Cordiero
Jodie Chartrand
Garden Hill
Pinaymootang
NHFI
Keeseekowenin
St. Theresa's Point
Grand Rapids
Princess Harbour
York Landing
Wasagamack
WRTC
Poplar River
Barrows
FNIHB
FARHA
Fisher River
Wabowden
Wasagamack
FMM
Heifer/FMM
NACC
Fox Lake
Food Secure Canada
Little Sask
War Lake
Opaskwayak
Duck Bay
Nelson House
O-chi-chak-ko-sipi
FNIH
FNIH
Fisher River
Pauingassi
Canupawaka Dakota
Nation
Chemawawin
OPCN
Wasagamack
FNIHB
Waterhen
Joseph LaBlanc
Josephine Harper
Joyce Huntinghawk
Julie Price
Karen Warren
Kreesta Doucette
Larry Wood
Leon Simard
Liz Yellowquill
Laurie Wood Ducharme
Lori Rudolph-Crawford
Lorna McLellan
Lorna Cloud
Lousia Stevens
Marlene Bourassa
Marsha Roulette
Melva Spence
Michael Case
Miriam Okemow
Moneca Sinclair
Natalie Wowk-Slukynsky
Olivia Hart
Paul Chorney
Paul Fieldhouse
Peggy Manchese
Peter Chartrand
Robin Bryan
Sarah Bird
Sarah Jane Keno
Stefan Epp-Koop
Steven Surprenant
Theresa Garson
Theresa Sinclair
Tony Harper
Wallace McDougall
Wanda Beaudry
Robert Gillford
Wendy Trylinsky
NAN Thunder Bay
St. Theresa Point
Rolling River
Heifer
NHFI
FMM
Garden Hill
FARHA
Long Plain
FARHA
FNIHB
Red Sucker Lake
Waywayseecappo
Sapotaweyak
Barrows
LMFN
Sandy Bay
NHFI
Manto Sipi
MAFRA
FNIHB
Norway House
MAFRA
NHFI MC
Tootinaowaziibeeng
Skownan Health Center
FMM
Little Black River
Garden Hill
FMM
Princess Harbour
Split Lake
Hollow Water
Wasagamack
FARHA
Wuskiwi Sipihk
Clear Lake
NAN - Thunder Bay
Participant Responses to Group Activities
Question 1: What kinds of traditional food are available in your community (Identify/ list your
nation’s traditional food sources. Assess if they are currently accessible)?
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Moose meat, rabbit, beaver, muskrat,
lynx, caribou, geese, ducks, partridge,
berries, wild rice, fiddleheads, wild teas,
roots, wild mushrooms, nuts, seagull eggs,
bear meat
Deer, elk, fish (whitefish, trout, mariah,
red sucker, pickerel, jack), mink, otter,
lynx, rose hips, squirrels, prairie chickens,
bison, raising chickens
Beef, pigs, wild turkey, morels,
blueberries, Saskatoon berries,
raspberries, chokecherries, rhubarb,
hazelnuts, cranberries, corn, smalls bird,
eggs, goose eggs, swan, caribou, elk,
whitefish, mariah, northern pike, red
sucker, trout, sunfish, lake sturgeon
Vegetables, wild raspberries, Saskatoon
berries, strawberries, chokecherries, pinch
berries, gooseberries, small cherries,
squash, wild horseradish, wild rhubarb,
leaf lettuce, cherry tomatoes, carrots,
onions
Meat – fish, sucker heads, moose, rabbits,
geese, caribou, lynx, swans, beaver,
muskrat, bear, frogs, ducks, wild chicken
Nuts – pine nuts
Plants – spruce tips, wild mint, labrador
tea, birch sap, willow, juniper, wild
strawberries, lily, wild rice, dandelion, bull
rushes, birch bark, burdock
Fruit – blueberries, high bush cranberries,
gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries,
Saskatoon berries, chokecherries, juniper
berries, wild rose hips, thorn berries,
bunch berries
Moose, prairie chickens, caribou, rabbit,
beaver, geese, ducks, muskrats, fish
(pickerel, jack, whitefish), berries
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(blueberries, raspberries, cranberries,
moss berries), dandelion greens, wild rice,
roots, wild mushrooms
Rats, geese, ducks, deer, fish, elk, beavers,
rabbits, wild turkey, partridge grouse,
bison, caribou, wild hogs, chokecherries,
blueberries, Saskatoon berries, wild
strawberries, gooseberries, cranberries,
raspberries, wild mint, ginger, rhubarb,
mushrooms, syrup, fiddleheads, wild
onions, dandelions, pinch cherries
Moose, goose, duck, fish, chickens, elk,
muskrat, caribou, beaver tail, deer, bear,
rabbit, seagull eggs, duck eggs, morels,
fiddleheads, blueberries, raspberries,
strawberries, gooseberries, cranberries,
chokecherries, moss berries, Saskatoon
berries, wild ginger, swamp tea
Moose, deer, elk, rabbits, muskrats, duck,
goose, pickerel, jacks, whitefish, red
suckers, trout, prairie chicken, bison,
beaver, lynx, bear, caribou, duck eggs,
Saskatoon berries, blueberries,
raspberries, strawberries, chokecherries,
pinch berries, cranberries, gooseberries,
dandelions, crab apples, wild rice, teas,
min, rosehips, muskeg, fiddleheads,
mushrooms, maple syrup, hazelnuts, bear
nuts
Moose, deer, elk, duck, goose, muskrat,
beaver, partridge, grouse, prairie chicken,
fish, jack, pickerel, whitefish, mullet,
perch, mule deer, bison, wild turkey,
squirrel, gopher, wild hog, caribou, bear,
all kinds of vegetables, blueberries,
Saskatoon berries, wild turnip,
mushrooms
Question 2: Is your community/family currently accessing traditional foods? If so, how?
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Yes, hunting, harvesting, fishing,
gardening, trapping, gnarling, walk, boat,
canoe, quad, skidoo
Trying to get more going, not a project
people just do it – part of the lifestyle
85 gardens in Wabowden
2 poultry producers
Boats, ringer washers, make great gardens
– northern style
Fish – nets, angling, scooping, snare net,
ice fishing, land based education
Moose/deer – hunting, land based
education
Beaver, rabbits, muskrat, lynx, partridge –
trapping
Hunting, trapping, raising bison, fishing,
gathering, harvesting
Not everyone, but we are still accessing
these foods – all accessible!
People are there that have the knowledge
and skills. Biggest barrier is laziness!
Seasonal hunting/gathering
Family and community sharing
Traditional teachings
Cultural camp/school curriculum
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Country food store – free for Elders
Fisheries/commercial
All traditional meat get from husband that
is a trapper
Fish, moose, duck, rabbit, get from
parents/grandparents
Berries (pick yourself) to make jams, put
in baking, freeze
School also picks berries and gives them
to Elders
Wild meat from community freezers
Hunting
Fishing
Snaring
Trapping
Local farmer/rancher
Picking
Purchasing
Growing
Sharing
Migration as per availability
We harvest and hunt them ourselves or
someone gives them to us. We could also
buy some
Question 3: How can we overcome these barriers?
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Teach youth to hunt
Lobby government reduce use of
pesticides
Hunting restrictions
Moratorium on land clearing (trees)
A barrier to going hunting/trapping is the
high cost of the plane ride
How to overcome? Getting a subsidy for
plane fare, 2 families split the cost
In the past, all parts of the animal were
used. Now they only take the good parts
and leave the rest
Traditional food camps: teach kids to hunt
and prepare the foods
Start with youth
Biggest barrier is laziness
Another barrier is modernization/industry
Knowledge is disappearing – need more
teachings
Finances – use existing resources
Interest younger people – make teachings
user friendly, start early
Pool resources – everyone works together
Teach in school traditional hunting and
harvesting
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Open hunting grounds
Get rid of the over populated wolves
Control burning
Plant fruit trees, develop markets
Planting berries so they can be shared
with others
Five year no hunting moose – go to
Saskatchewan and bring back signed form
from Resources
Wild plums – land clearing, bulldozed
Spotlighting
Wild rice – replant? No control of nature!
Hawthorns – killed off due to
chemicals/bulldozing
Barriers depend on modern technology
(quads, boats, g.p.s.)
People aren’t interesting in harvesting,
hunting and trapping anymore because
it’s easier to buy it – hard work
Storing, processing, canning etc. are
becoming a lost skill
Time – too many things to do/too many
distractions
Knowledge – don’t know how anymore