Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Integrating community based approaches to support environments where traditional foods are valued and accessible. The transference of traditional harvesting and food processing skills are limited in communities today. This is reflected in the health of our communities, including the health of the land and wellbeing of our people. We have been rediscovering the indigenous food knowledge with in communities and supporting traditional food activities to promote healthy food choices that connect communities with the medicine from the land. Harvesters have shared with us that we have been provided everything we need in life from the land. Living with the land is a way of life for many Indigenous people; it provides nourishment and benefits us physically, emotionally and spiritually. It also represents a special relationship to the land which makes up a large part of who we are as Indigenous peoples. The special relationship is told to us through our songs, teachings, and our way of life, providing a venue for cultural identity and a sense of home with the land. Indigenous food is medicine. Our research and project activities bring together elders, youth and families to learn about traditional food practices. This presentation will share our experience supporting the reclamation of Indigenous food activities in Manitoba, supporting healthier environments where traditional and healthy foods are valued and accessible.