TAKING BACK OUR FOOD CHAIN

Building Capacity in Remote Communities

Forum Report

LAC SEUL EVENTS CENTRE FRENCHMAN’S HEAD LAC SEUL FIRST NATION March 28 - 30, 2018

Project funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Prepared by: Kanina Terry & Jesse Terry

Taking Back Our Food Chain Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Forum Description ...... 3

Project Partners ...... 4

Planning Table ...... 5

Identifying Priorities ...... 5 Ice Breaker - Visual Sliding Scale ...... 5 Dotmocracy ...... 7

Community Input Session ...... 7

Asset Mapping Exercise ...... 8

Evaluations ...... 9

Action Items from Forum...... 10

Appendices ...... 10

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FORUM DESCRIPTION Food accessibility is a common challenge in Northern Ontario and especially in the remote communities of the Far North. The focus of the three-day forum was to Build Capacity in Remote Communities. It explored ways to increase access to healthy, affordable foods by discussing tools and supports that influence the community food system in northern communities. The forum built on community engagement meetings held in 2015 and 2016 in Lac Seul First Nation by the First Nation - Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative and Regional Distribution Centre Project. Those community engagement meetings identified the need to “take back the food chain” to achieve food security in Ontario’s Far North communities. The forum agenda was designed to allow the opportunity for discussion and planning, along with presentations on food security initiatives happening in the region. The presentations topics covered: how to coordinate, consolidate, distribute and receive food; economic development opportunities around food in the communities; food safety and food literacy/skills; the development of local food initiatives to increase access to healthy food. The original agenda and final agenda for the event is included as Appendix A. This event invited individuals from more than 30 Far North communities along with groups and organizations – that support and work in the areas of food production, distribution and accessibility to work on issues pertaining to community food sovereignty and security. Participants included: 33 community members from 16 First Nation communities, 9 observers, 22 presenters and 9 members from the planning committee. See Appendix B for full participant list and Appendix C for presenter biographies and contact information. As lead agency for the project, the Northwestern Health Unit partnered with the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, Municipality of Sioux Lookout in the framework of the Friendship Accord, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and Local Food and Farm Co-ops to plan and execute the forum. Representatives from the Regional Distribution Centre Project, Lac Seul First Nation and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines were part of the event planning table. The Taking Back Our Food Chain Forum was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The Ministry also funds the The Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program Expansion Program as part of a provincial investment in Indigenous health through the First Nations Health Action Plan. The forum is an enhancement project that will expand on the benefits the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program offers communities. The forum was catered by Sanderson Catering from Frenchman’s Head, Lac Seul First Nation. Sanderson Catering provided breakfast, nutrition break snacks and lunch that met the Northwestern Health Unit’s Healthy Meetings and Events Policy.

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PROJECT PARTNERS In keeping with the goal to increase access to healthy, affordable foods in northern communities, the following partners worked together to develop the forum agenda; the development of the follow-up processes and plans; and evaluation of success of the forum. In addition, the partners have brought the following to the planning process. Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority has ensured Indigenous evaluation methods are incorporated. SLFNHA will also assist with building capacity in the Far North communities through supporting local programming on partnership initiatives; and education. This initiative connects with SLFNHA's mission to provide services, advocacy and leadership in the health of Anishinaabe people across the Sioux Lookout region by strengthening partnerships and re-powering communities. Furthermore, it aligns with the work of the Approaches to Community Wellbeing to provide education and health promotion around healthy eating. Northwestern Health Unit has provided the support of a Registered Dietitian and Epidemiologist for the planning process. This initiative connects with the health unit goal of healthy lifestyles, longer lives lived well; and mandate to address issues related to health equity and the social determinants of health. It fits in to the NWHU Chronic Disease Prevention plan that includes action on food security, local initiatives, and food literacy/food skill development. NWHU also is coordinating the rollout of the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program to 15 First Nation communities in the Far North, with the plan to reach 2 additional communities in 2019. The Municipality of Sioux Lookout Economic Development Manager is the lead officer for the Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord and the Regional Distribution Centre and has assisted in applying the guiding principles cited in the Accord during the project development process. The Municipality contributed office space for the event coordinators in the Municipal Economic Development Office, which has facilitated connection with members of Far North communities who often visit the office.

This initiative connects with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s mission to improve, promote and protect the health and well-being of the population in the District of Thunder Bay. With TBDHU’s Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program, 11 First Nation schools will be reached in 2018 with the plan to reach 6 additional schools in 2019.

This initiative is in line with Local Food and Farm Co-ops aim to encourage collaboration to support increased capacity, distribution and consumption of Ontario produced foods to build stronger food systems.

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PLANNING TABLE • Emily Paterson, Director of Approaches to Community Wellbeing, Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority • Shannon Robinson, Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention, Northwestern Health Unit • Kelly McIntosh, Northern Fruit and Vegetable Coordinator, Northwestern Health Unit • Vicki Blanchard, Economic Development Manager, Municipality of Sioux Lookout • Bruce Sakakeep, Manager / CEO, Petaykawin Development Corporation • Vincent Ng, Public Health Nutritionist, Thunder Bay District Health Unit • Jennifer Springett, LFFC Northwest Coordinator, Local Food and Farm Co-ops • Jeremy Capay, Events Centre Manager, Lac Seul Events Centre • Che Curtis-September, Northern Development Officer, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines • Charles Levkoe, PhD, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Food Systems, Director, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Research and Engagement, Lakehead University • Jesse Terry, Event Coordinator • Kanina Terry, Event Coordinator

IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES Two (2) exercises were done on Day One to identify participant’s priorities around food security. In both exercises, participants were asked to consider their personal, work and community priorities. These exercises were used to provide guidance to the agenda and discussion on Day Three.

ICE BREAKER - VISUAL SLIDING SCALE

Following opening remarks, a visual sliding scale activity was conducted to asess the priority given to seven (7) topics highlighted by the planning table. The exercise engaged participants by having them move horizontally to a position in the centre of the room to show how important a topic was to them - with the left being “not important” and right being “important”.

Food Growing Food Education Programs

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Community Buying Clubs Retail Stores

Regional Distribution Hunting, Harvesting and Foraging

Food Storage and Infrastructure

As the pictures imply, importance was given to the following topics: • Food Education • Regional Distribution • Hunting, Harvesting and Foraging • Food Storage and Infrastructure

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DOTMOCRACY

On one wall of the Bear Room, the main room of the event, eight (8) posters were hung on one wall. The 8 posters had the 7 highlighted topics written at the top, along with an “Other” poster. Following the Regional Food Update and Community Input Session, participants were given post-it notes to place on the posters - indicating which topic they would like to discuss on Day Three. Food Growing: 13 Food Education Programs: 13 Community Buying Clubs: 1 Retail Stores: 3 Regional Distribution: 1 Hunting, Harvesting and Foraging: 17 Food Storage and Infrastructure 5 (e.g., freezers, preserving) Other: 4 (Food preservation, Climate change, climate change education i.e. risks, whole sale store)

COMMUNITY INPUT SESSION The last session on Day One was originally planned to be a roundtable discussion. After discussion amongst the planning table, it was decided to have a guided session instead. The Community Input Session set the stage for the presentations on Day Two and the discussion and planning on Day Three.

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Vincent Ng and Jesse Terry split the group into four (4) groups randomly by assigning participants a number between one (1) to 4 and gave each corner of the room a number. Participants then went to their corresponding corner. Participants were asked 3 questions related to accessing healthy and affordable food in their community. Each group was given flip-chart paper and markers to record their notes. The groups later presented their responses. Following are common answers among the 4 groups. 1. What are the barriers in your community to accessing healthy and affordable food? • High cost to ship food by air • Lack of capacity (human and physical) to store/receive food • Social issues (low income, addictions) • Lack of choice / competition • Lack of food knowledge/skills (traditional and western) 2. What is your community currently doing to increase access to healthy and affordable food? • Community programs (student nutrition programs, ADI) • Community gathering and traditional food sharing • Community garden • Removed Northern Store • Knowledge sharing (trapping, net fishing, survival skills, hunting, language) • Resource sharing (mothers helping mothers, equipment loans, bartering/trading) 3. What could be done in your community to increase access to healthy and affordable food? • Remove Northern Store / Open community store • Improved communication/education around funding, government programs, community programs • Improve or develop food storage • Grow food • Encourage land-based skills to acquire food • Increase wages/OW rates • Food education Results from the Community Input Session is included in Appendix D. ASSET MAPPING EXERCISE In the afternoon on Day Three, Emmett Ferguson, Charles Levkoe and Jen Springett led an Asset Mapping exercise. Participants were asked to map the available assets in their communities related to four (4) potential initiatives related to food systems change. The initiatives were chosen from the priorities identified on Day One. Assets were mapped or listed in five (5) categories (Culture and Identity Assets, Physical and Land Assets, People and Skills Assets, Money Assets, Social Relationship Assets) corresponding to the Sustainable Livelihoods framework. Some groups provided asset ‘ratings’ on a Likert scale from 1-5, while others simply listed some of the available assets. Potential Initiatives and Participants: • Community Stores: Elizabeth (Liz) Chapman - KI, Roseanne Quedent - Muskrat Dam, Kathleen Beardy - Muskrat Dam, Wally Baskatawang - Slate Falls, Lisa Crowe - Sandy Lake, Karen Tom - Eagle Lake, Cecilia Begg - KI

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• Hunting, Harvesting and Foraging: Robyn Gray - Mishkeegogamang, Dinah Kakekagumick - Keewaywin, Richard Moskotaywenene - Bearskin Lake, Howard Meekis - Deer Lake, William Ransom, Viola Roundhead - Wunnumin Lake • Indigenous and Western Food Education: Gary Mamageesic - Sandy Lake, Felix Harper - Sandy Lake, Kelly McIntosh - Northwestern Health Unit, Shannon Robinson - Northwestern Health Unit, Twilya Strong - Cat Lake, Emily Paterson - Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, Diana Bockus - Silver Mountain Food Buying Club, Nicole Nolet - Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, • Community Gardens: Jerry Rae - Deer Lake, Rosemary Tait - Sachigo Lake, Ryan Bunting - Cat Lake, Charles Levkoe - Lakehead Univeristy, Branavan Tharmarajah - Growcer, Clara Winnepetonga - Wapekeka

The exercise did not produce a final work product suitable for immediate action or implementation; rather it was a starting point for further discussion and planning. Results from the Asset Mapping Exercise is included in Appendix E.

EVALUATIONS On the final day, an eight (8) question event evaluation was handed out to participants. 28 evaluations were completed. Here are the top three (3) results from each question. What did you enjoy at this event? • Gardening and greenhouse • Making new connections • Presentations What are 2 things you will take away from this event? • New ideas, learning, info • Connections and sharing • Gardening/growing food What are other topics you would have liked to have seen at this event? • Traditional foods/medicines • Funding information • Food access/ordering food Would your community like further consultation to assist with building food security or capacity? If yes, please describe. • Growing food/gardening/greenhouses • Capacity (freezers) • Bulk buying

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What could have been done better? • More discussion/hands on learning • Too short/not long enough • More language and traditional knowledge What will your next steps be? • Report on event to community members/leaders • Connect with contacts made who can help • Start garden/greenhouse What should our next steps be? • More events/meetings • More local/Indigenous presentors/facilitators • Keep in contact with participants Any other comments? • Miigwech/thank you • Learned lots • Great job

ACTION ITEMS FROM FORUM Based on discussions, information sharing and feedback at the Taking Back Our Food Chain Forum, the planning table have identified the following topics as action items for future projects: • Gardening / Greenhouses • Hunting, Harvesting and Foraging • Indigenous and Western Food Education / Literacy • Community Stores • Regional Distribution • Funding • Food Access / Ordering Food / Bulk Buying • Food Storage / Community Capacity

APPENDICES • Appendix A - Agenda • Appendix B - Participants • Appendix C - Presenter Biographies • Appendix D - Community Input Session • Appendix E - Asset Mapping Report

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