March 4, 2020
Network Meeting Summary

Thank you to Emily Pletsch and Keira McPhee for
collaborating on the network meeting summary!

Our fullest house yet took in a Panel Discussion with Dawn Morrison, Joanne Taylor and Ananda Lee Tan on climate chaos mitigation, particularly relating to water. All three panelists presented on the current climate crisis and the importance of having Indigenous voices as key navigators in dealing with this crisis. The critical role water plays in Indigenous Food Sovereignty was presented, as well as the impact water has on all biodiversity and food availability. Each panelist presented on their work and importance of making substantial shifts and transformations in our current system to deal with the climate crisis.

Dawn Morrison

Dawn Morrison is the founder and curator of the Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty since 2006. Food sovereignty requires healthy territory and a diversity of species. Its paradigm moves away from the present production narrative, and resource extraction as the base of our economy, to a solidarity or sharing economy. It is clear that existing systems can’t deal with the complexity.

The working group launched the Indigenous Food and Freedom School in 2019. The school was created to build capacity , build Indigenous leadership, and address underlying issues. Other focus areas of the school include creating emancipatory learning materials, policy primers, alternative economic development, and working with natural water flow systems–not against them. Dawn spoke to the importance of protecting water, a concept expressed through yecwemenetkwe in Secwepemctsin, and the vital role water plays in Indigenous Food Sovereignty.

Water rights are a part of the land and this is complicated by multi-jurisdictional challenges, wherein various levels of government districts don’t overlap with the watersheds. When questions or issues arise, no one will take on the responsibility of addressing it. An example of this is playing out on the Neskonlith reserve where there is no Indigenous access to water for irrigation and access to the Neskonlith Lake dam is on private land. A second example discussed the Imperial Mines disaster at Mount Polley — the corporation has not been held accountable for reparation (and continues to operate with government approval).

Dawn discussed shifting the narrative and creating ethical spaces of engagement, posing the questions: How can Indigenous law interface with the changes that are needed? How can Indigenous Peoples be the voices of this change? Ethical spaces of engagement means recognizing and acting from an awareness that Indigenous peoples on the front lines of the eco-crisis/climate change (e.g., stopping pipelines, industrial agriculture, forestry where glyphosate is sprayed) are also the most vulnerable according to all of the social determinants of health.

Dawn presented a Cross Cultural Interface Framework: Decolonizing Food Systems Research and Relationships, that helps identify land/food strategies that are complementary with Indigenous Food Sovereignty (e.g., hunting, fishing, trading, gardening, small scale farming). The framework reveals strategies that show how Indigenous law and governance interface with the changes that are needed. It also reveals contradictions via wicked questions, which can open up potential for transformation when considered intentionally.

Joanne Taylor

Joanne Taylor is a post doctoral research fellow in agricultural climate change adaptation and policy at UBCO. Joanne presented her research on the impacts of colonialism in the Creston Valley in British Columbia. Joanne spoke to the land’s history of providing abundant food sources for Indigenous communities over millennia. Current development in the area has ongoing detrimental impacts on biodiversity and food procurement. Joanne spoke to the devastating environmental impacts of these developments and the ongoing expansions, which continue to subordinate Indigenous peoples and their decision making. Joanne spoke to the upcoming 2024 Columbia River Treaty discussions and the importance of having Indigenous peoples as leading decision makers because an inherent sacred responsibility for the land exists among Indigenous peoples.

Ananda Lee Tan

Ananda has been supporting global social movements for over 30 years. Ananda is a co-founder of the Climate Justice Alliance and a member of the Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Ananda spoke to the knowledge of those who walked before us and using this knowledge to understand how to tackle climate issues (through climate justice solutions, just transition, and a solidarity economy). Ananda spoke to the BC climate change risk assessment and presented three critiques:

1. the assessment does not center the voices of those communities and cultures who are most impacted and therefore have experience (Ananda shared a story of two men standing on a beach watching a tsunami approach. One is a scientist who runs off in one direction and the other is a fisherman who runs in the other direction — who would you follow?),
2. the issues addressed are limited (“carbon reductionism”) and do not recognize innate connections (nature is zero waste), such as the loss of biodiversity, culture, and title, and
3. the assessment does not acknowledge the root drivers of this crisis, which are global mega-corporations. We need to remember that there are names and faces responsible for this climate crisis — which is where our efforts need to be focused. Our individual strategies to mitigate waste are not responsible for driving the climate crisis (this only accounts for 8% of waste, whereas corporate waste/extraction/destruction/pollution accounts for the rest).

Ananda spoke to the current “dig, burn, drive, dump” economy and the current system operating on greed rather than community. He also shared a cautionary tale about how movements can be co-opted by the agenda of industry. An example was provided where methane was being held up as an excellent alternative fuel — a campaign that was taken up by Greenpeace. This was an example of accepting money from philanthropists to focus on strategies that are devised by the oil and gas industry. When Ananda took this strategy to La Via Campesina, they were able to call it out right away.

Ananda spoke to a just transition and posed the questions: What is the economy we need to create? Where are the jobs that serve the environment? Where are the real jobs?

Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 1st,  5:30-7:30
Updates from Robyn & Emily (regarding KFPC’s value statements) and Bonnie (regarding a project happening with nursing students)

Chair: Glenn Hilke
Set Up:
Clean Up:

Network Meeting Summary
February 5, 2020

Board Report and Staff Report

In January, the board and staff had the privilege of taking part in a second workshop with Dawn Morrison about Indigenous Food Sovereignty and we look forward to integrating this knowledge into our work.

Some board members and staff are planning to participate in the City of Kamloops upcoming public consultation for the Community Climate Action Plan. The date for the public consultation has not been announced yet.

Staff and contractors are currently doing some shifting of organizational duties to place a greater emphasis on grant writing and fundraising. Staff and contractor presence might seem a bit limited for the upcoming month or so as Sandra is away on vacation and Bonnie is busy focusing her time on grant writing.

Other things staff and contractors are up to…

• Michelle will be part of a panel discussion on expanding regional agricultural supports at the Island Agriculture Show in Duncan tomorrow (February 6). This stems from the policy implementation project that launched the Food Hub pilot and more recently started discussing the formation of a Farmers Institute.
• Bonnie will be a panelist at the Economic Unity Conference, hosted by Community Future Development Corporation of Central Interior First Nations, here in Kamloops on February 20-21
• Sandra is recruiting a KFPC team to help Kamloops Reach at the May 17th PitStop meal. Watch for her article in the Connector. Contact Sandra if you would like to be involved.
• The Food Hub pilot wrapped up and the report was completed. The team is awaiting the release of the next stage of funding to continue the development of this project.
• KFPC is a community partner for a 2-Day Food Business Planning Workshop on Feb 10 & 11 at the United Church: This is an excellent opportunity for local food businesses:
  • The workshop is ideal for micro, small, and medium-sized food processors looking to improve and/or expand their operations, as well as farmers looking to create value-added products.
  • It is a 9 module workshop series that covers: business planning, marketing, product development, financial planning, quality management, packaging, production & costing, logistics, and resources & networking.
  • Cost for the 2 day workshop is $100 per participant
  • Check out the Blog section of the KFPC website for more information.

Community News & Updates

• Farmers’ Market archives need help sorting: February & March. Contact wed@kamloopsfarmersmarket.com
• Naturalist Club wants to host workshops and educational resources for Kamloops residents regarding personal land management to support species biodiversity and climate change resilience. Contact kamloopswildgrowers@gmail.com
• Shelaigh provided updates on the Qwemtsin Health and Skeetchestn Food Forest projects, as well as celebrating the recent completion of a Permaculture Design Certificate course.
• Two NorKam students shared about their Fridays for Future events, organizing climate strikes, and the NorKam Environmental and Upcycling Club. Composting has started at NorKam. This is a passionate group of students!
• Carole shared a thought provoking poem.
• Diane, the Mount Paul Community Food Centre’s Food Literacy Coordinator shared about new kids’ programs and a new Food Sense program coming soon, as well as a more formalized garden program that will include kids’ programming.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 4, 5:30 – 7:30
**Panel Discussion with Dawn Morrison and Joanne Taylor on climate chaos mitigation, particularly relating to water**

Set up: Rob W, Diane M
Clean up: Ben C, Carole H
Note taker: Emily P

Join us at the December Network Meeting and hear about our exploration of the food system through a mycelium metaphor (it’s quite amazing!). It’s a helpful visual for how we can strengthen our food system and we’d love your input.

December 4
5:30 – 7:30
Mount Paul Community Food Centre
140 Laburnum Street

**If you’d like to, bring a dish to share in our legendary potluck**

Network Meeting Summary
October 2, 2019

Community Spotlight ~ Food Hub Meet & Greet
The evening started with questions from Mount Paul Community Food Centre and Kamloops Food Policy Council, followed by questions from the floor. Terry Lake – Liberal (TL), Iain Currie – Green (IC), and Kira Cheeseborough – Animal Protection Party (KC) joined us to speak to how their parties address food related issues.

Access to healthy, culturally appropriate food
TL – Feeding a global community is a very challenging thing. Innovations in food production have kept up but some practices are environmentally damaging/detrimental. It’s important to focus on sustainability of food production, utilizing resources in the best economic way. Supportive of food banks and the good work they are doing. Focus on local production, low cost healthy food and work to reduce the stigma of needing to access the food bank.

IC – The Green Party plans to partner with the provinces to create guaranteed livable income, which would help to address poverty and food insecurity. It’s concerning that we still need food banks and it’s something the government should help out with. It is a human right to have food security. Don’t talk about band-aids, we need to solve the problem.

KC – Having lived experience with food insecurity, reforming the current food systems is key (e.g., animal agriculture is environmentally destructive). Phasing away from animal agriculture and removing dairy from diet will be key. Animal Protection Party also looks at universal basic income to help people access nutritious fruit and vegetables. Require retailers to donate food to food banks and emergency food providers.

What priorities from the National Food Policy does your party address? What do you think is missing from this list?
TL – Incentivizing innovation and technology in Northern areas is essential. Universal basic income and affordable food would also increase access to healthy food for people.

IC – The national school lunch program, an already existing program, could be funded more through the federal government, which would be a win (agriculture sector) – win (health outcomes) – win (educational outcomes) situation. Something that is missing from the National Food Policy is greening the food system and policies, moving away from industrial agriculture to local, organic agriculture. The Green Party has a two-page platform on food security.

KC – Prioritizing food access and mandating grocers to donate to food banks would be key priorities. Something that is missing is rather than growing food to feed 58 billion animals for human diets, we need to phase out animal agriculture to feed humans directly.

Would you ask your party to embed cost sharing for the universal healthy school food program AND fund it?
KC – It’s so important for schools to teach growing and cooking food. Yes and yes.

IC – Yes and yes.

TL – Was a part of the provincial government that brought in Farmers’ Market coupon program. Prioritizing funding for school food program would happen. It’s key to educate youth regarding healthy, nutritious food.

How would you speed up the process to prohibit neonicotinoids from use?
TL – Pollinator colony collapse is a concern and needs a lot of research quickly. Led by evidence in decision-making, there is a platform to review Canadian Environmental Protection Agency management process.

IC – Precautionary principle would be brought in here: banning use of neonicotinoids until research proves it’s safe. Although there is not a neonic ban in the Green Party platform, Iain would push the Greens and parliament to use the precautionary principle.

KC – Animal Protection Party has nothing specific to neonicotinoids, however they do have something regarding biocyclic agriculture: organic agriculture that uses no animal products or pesticides. Banning neonics would fit into this.

Food insecurity is reduced if rental housing is lowered. How does your party propose to make rental housing accessible/affordable?
IC – Reintroduce policy from the 70’s/80’s to encourage rentals through CMHC lower cost financing to co-op housing and approve more suites/rental units.

TL – The federal Liberal Party has been investing in people through the Child Household Tax Benefit and a national household strategy. As a society, we need to destigmatize that renting is bad, encourage building of rental housing, and incentivize increasing rentals.

KC – Bring in rent control legislation, prevent gentrification, stop capital investors who are looking for profit over need, and subsidized housing for seniors, students, and those living on fixed income.

Indigenous food sources are at risk because they are not protected. What will you do to protect the undergrowth and wild food sources?
TL – Combine Indigenous knowledge with protecting natural land. One successful example is how undergrowth and mushroom harvesting was managed after the Skeetchestn Elephant Hill fire. This model could be exported across Canada.

IC – Root solutions: Indigenous sovereignty over land and food sources. Government can get out of the way of Indigenous peoples taking sovereignty over their lands and food production. Change forestry practices so that Roundup and clearcuting are not being used. Develop a national forestry strategy and take seriously Indigenous sovereignty over food.

KC – Return land sovereignty to Indigenous peoples. The current government is from a system of colonizing and eradicating peoples from homes. Need to stop extractive industries (forestry, mining, pipelines) and pesticide use, and work alongside Indigenous peoples to protect 50% of land and coastal areas. Freeing up land by moving away from animal agriculture and returning to Indigenous peoples.

Terry Lake, if I vote for you, how would you be different than what happened under Christy Clark’s government?
TL – During that time in provincial government, I advocated for increased income assistance as this was a coalition of Liberals and Conservatives. Over the last two years, I’ve been working to prevent opioid deaths. I believe in free enterprise and also helping vulnerable people. I re-entered politics to help. The Federal Liberals are working hard on truth and reconciliation.

We live in a rich country, but we are failing because everyone doesn’t have two meals per day. Many people have no income/no home. Medicine Hat houses everyone.
IC – Housing First Solution: properly fund housing; guaranteed livable income. There is a government responsibility to fix this and can pay for this with more taxes (e.g., a wealth tax, big business, remove oil and gas subsidy, tax on Facebook and digital communications). With this tax structure, government could finance social justice, mental health, and addiction.

KC – Housing first models work. Universal basic income and prioritizing subsidized housing would be key. Housing shouldn’t be on a market, but as a basic right, therefore prevent gentrification and capital investors. A profit driven society means some people are seen as more deserving.

Announcements
– October 16, Bowls for Souls, Fundraiser for Sensational Soups on World Hunger Day. Get your tickets on Eventbrite: $15 for the meal, $25 includes a handcrafted pottery bowl (donated by the Kamloops Arts & Crafts Club) that you can take home with you.
– The Big Edition, latest edition, was on offer at the meeting. An independent, commercial free newspaper that started in January that offers an alternative to panhandling. The December issue is all about food, so send in your contributions.

Upcoming Events – Save the Dates & Get Tix!
Check out our Events Calendar on the KFPC website. Help us to keep our community informed by posting events to the website calendar. Scroll down on our home page until you find it!

Who’s Who
Animal Protection Party
BC Food Security Gateway
Food Bank
Green Party
Harvest to Home
Kamloops Food Policy Council
Lived Experience Committee
Open Door Group Gardengate
PIT Stop
Thompson Shuswap Master Gardener Association

Next Meeting: November 6, 2019, 5:30 – 7:30
@ Mount Paul Community Food Centre
140 Laburnum Street
Food Hub Public Engagement

Chair: Deanna
Set Up: Alexis, Mike
Clean Up: Matt G.