Community Report Hesquiaht Food Planning to Action Project
Presented to: Community Coordinator Community Food Planning to Action Project Public Health Agency of Canada
Prepared by: Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Hesquiaht Food Project Team
Draft Date: January 27, 2009
Contract #4500218622 Table of Contents Introduction ...... 3 Authors of the Community Report: The Hesquiaht Food Project Team ...... 3 Background ...... 4 The Project ...... 4 Hesquiaht First Nation ...... 5 Literature Review...... 7 Project Team Development...... 9 Regional Interest in the Project ...... 9 Community Meeting #1: Public Consultation ...... 10 Pre-Consultation Meeting ...... 10 Consultation ...... 10 Key Messages ...... 11 Transportation Challenges: Boats, Trucks and Roads ...... 11 Food Choices, Food Options...... 11 Gardening and Community Gardening ...... 11 Agriculture, Farming and Hunting ...... 12 Wildcrafting ...... 12 Hunting ...... 12 Food as Medicine, Lifestyle and Traditional Food ...... 13 Youth and Children ...... 13 Government and Governance Issues ...... 13 Next Steps ...... 15 Additional Project Research ...... 15 Interviews ...... 15 Site Visits ...... 15 Regional and Community Connections ...... 15 Works Cited ...... 16
2 Introduction This Community Report represents the unofficial mid-way point in the Hesquiaht Food Planning to Action Project. Since the orientation session in early October, the project team has been building its capacity to connect with the Hot Springs Cove community of Hesquiaht First Nation and identify solutions to diverse and challenging food security issues in the territory.
This report comprises information on the preliminary research, communications and organization of the community consultation that took place in late November 2009.
Authors of the Community Report: The Hesquiaht Food Project Team Each team member has contributed to the creation of this community report. Additionally, each team member has contributed to the design development and implementation of the community consultation.
The core team identified in the original proposal has grown to include an additional Hesquiaht Community Representatives, as well as two team members from the Hesquiaht Band Administration (local government). The participation of these individuals enhances the team’s capacity to successfully fulfill the project without affecting the budget.
The team comprises the following individuals (in alphabetical order):
Dolores Bayne – Hesquiaht Elder and Community Representative Curtis Cook – Project Manager, Executive Director, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Jessie Fletcher – Project Team Member, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Carol-Anne Hilton – Hesquiaht Band Council Stephanie Hughes – Project Team Member, Clayoquot Forest Communities Program Rebecca Hurwitz – Project Team Member, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Moses Lucas – Hesquiaht Elder and Community Representative Cecil Sabbas – Hesquiaht Band Administrator Jean Wylie – Project Team Member, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust
3 Background
The Project As identified in the work plan submitted in the original proposal, The Hesquiaht Food Planning to Action Project is a community-based, participatory project to:
• Identify and examine food security issues, assets, resources and goals in the Hesquiaht First Nation; • Engage the community in a culturally-sensitive, meaningful and collaborative partnership to commence effective planning and action on community food security; • Apply the Community-led Food Assessment model as the foundation of the process; • Collect and document relevant food security information for Hesquiaht First Nation and the surrounding Clayoquot Biosphere reserve region; • Develop a community action plan founded on the research and community engagement processes; and • Implement a process for evaluating the outcomes and impacts of the planned activities.
The methodology proposed for this project comprises the following:
• Literature review of existing food security documents relevant to the Northwest Pacific coast, First Nations Communities and the Biosphere Reserve region; • Research of existing projects and organizations engaging in food security activities in these territories; • Culturally sensitive community engagement, including feasting and sharing, open houses, focus groups and one-on-one discussions ; • Site visits using interviewing and surveying techniques; • Broad-based community consultation processes; • Information presentation and feedback activities, including action plan outlines; • Peer reviews of draft reports; • Communications strategy for final action plan; and • Ongoing monitoring and performance measurement.
For the purpose of this community report, the first five bullets under the methodology have been completed or are underway.
4 Hesquiaht First Nation
The Hesquiaht First Nation was chosen for this project because of its previously expressed interest in, and commitment to, food security solutions for its community.
The Nation is the most northerly of five Central Nuu-chah-nulth Nations on Vancouver Island and one of three with traditional territory within the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Region.
Hesquiaht First Nation (top left) in the context of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
5 Although many members of the Nation live outside the traditional territory in cities such as Port Alberni, Nanaimo or Victoria, the focus of this project are the communities of Hot Springs Cove and Hesquiaht Harbour. These communities are accessible by boat or float plane only and depend primarily on Tofino (up to 90 minutes by boat) for commercial good and services, including groceries.
Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hesquiaht.png)
Despite the overwhelming natural beauty and sense of peacefulness, the remoteness of the traditional communities contributes to the departure of many families and community members. To a large extent, the expense and challenge of obtaining food and household goods required for everyday living negatively affects population retention. The collapse of the regional fisheries and forestry activities has affected the local economy as well. While tourism continues to grow in the area, the infrastructure and training required to launch profitable business models is still a few years away.
Hesquiaht Band and Council are seeking solutions to address “quality of life” issues from social, spiritual, cultural, economic and physical health perspectives. Food security transcends many of these perspectives. This project will produce a community-inspired action plan based on the priority issues identified in the consultation and the potential solutions brought forward during the remainder of this project.
6 Literature Review The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust project team members undertook a literature review of recent, credible, published food security research relevant to both Hesquiaht First Nation and the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region as a whole. The integral connection between the remote communities, such as Hot Springs Cove and Hesquiaht Harbour, and the peninsula communities of Tofino and Ucluelet necessitates a regional study of food security issues as well.
The literature review revealed that quantitative analysis of food access, nutrition and other food security issues was limited. Statistical data collected by the province included all communities in the Alberni-Clayoquot region, including Port Alberni. With its population of 17,000 and its primarily urban/suburban development, Port Alberni’s data is not relevant to the project and is not reflective of the issues facing remote First Nations communities.
Ecotrust Canada published the “Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations Governance Structures” report in September of 2008 i. The document acts as an excellent reference tool to engaging local First Nations while respecting their cultural code of conduct. Such information is important, as culturally sensitive surveying techniques are crucial to respectfully and sensitively capturing relevant data. Secondly, the article identifies fisheries as historically important sources of employment to Hesquiaht First Nations, as well as fishery-related industries, such as boat building ii . The paper goes on to identify the development of an “affordable and sustainable transportation system” as key to Hesquiaht’s long term growth and success iii .
In early 2009, the Ucluelet Community Food Initiative (UCFI) completed a food survey of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve CSUBR communities, with an appendix of Ucluelet-specific information. The survey was intended to assess the communities’ interest and ideas about food security, with the hope that the document would provide a starting place for future Community Food Assessments and initiatives. The survey had a 14 per cent completion rate, and represented about seven per cent of the region. Nearly 24 per cent of those who chose to identify themselves, identified as First Nations and the majority of respondents were residents of either Tofino or Ucluelet.
Many of the CSUBR respondents identified access to fresh vegetables (51.1 per cent) and to fresh fish/seafood, poultry and meat (49.8 per cent) as a hindrance to maintaining a healthier diet iv . While reasons for difficult access are not specified, one could infer that cost may be a key factor, as 26.3 per cent identified their household income as less than $25,000 per year v. Another 37.5 per cent identified produce being too expensive as a significant hindrance to improving their diet vi . High cost of living in the CSUBR is often mentioned as a hindrance to retaining long term families, and the survey reflects this as 14.8 per cent of individuals who answered the survey and indicated they had previously sacrificed groceries for other expenses, all indicated rent as a reason.
7 Ecotrust Canada, with support from McAllister Opinion Research, surveyed 303 (six per cent) residents throughout the CSBR. The survey is estimated to have a margin of error of 5.1 per cent, accurate 19 times out of 20 vii . The survey asked questions of resident varying from use of social networking sites to concerns for their communities.
The survey results revealed that a high percentage of First Nations respondents lived in their communities their entire lives (62%) in contrast to Tofino and Ucluelet (13% and 14% percent respectively). Interestingly, the local First Nations positively rated their quality of life between 47 and 49 per cent, while 80 – 88 per cent of Ucluelet/Tofino residents felt they had a good or excellent quality of life viii .
All communities shared the same concerns; cost of living was identified as a significant concern by 67 per cent, protecting the environment was identified by 71 per cent as a significant concern and affordable housing was identified as the top concern by 72 per cent of respondents ix . Within protection the environment, 88 per cent identified protecting against fish stock depletion as their most significant environmental concern x. Again, food security could be hindered by cost of living issues, as the top two concerns identified in the Community Concern section related to affordability in the CSBR (Affordable housing and cost of living).
A number of documents, including the Central Vancouver Island Assessment of Aboriginal People (BC Stats 2006), the Local Health Area 70 - Alberni Statistical Profile and Michelle Schoffro Cook’s “Cancer Issues in the Clayoquot Sound Region” make the connection between health, education, employment and income. These are key factors in numerous food security issues.
The “Atlas of Wellness” is a reference tool put together by BC Stats in conjunction with the University of Victoria xi . The tool graphs BC by health district (again combining CSUBR communities with Central Vancouver Island) and has indicators ranging from chronic disease to nutrition level and community involvement. With the ability to cross several different variables and compare by region across the province, trends are easily identifiable and inconsistencies by region stick out. For example, one could cross reference those living with heart disease with those who were always able to eat a balanced meal. This is an upward moving trend, as increased balanced meals were positively related to those without heart disease.
The Hesquiaht Project Team recognizes the value of all of these studies and reports as tools to further their understanding of the issues around food security and the connections to education, employment and other quality of life factors. The complete literature review will be integrated into the final project report for the Public Health Agency of Canada.
8 Project Team Development The Hesquiaht Food Planning to Action Project team retains its core members from the orientation session in Ottawa. It has grown to include additional community leaders and experts from Hesquiaht First Nation.
The core team now comprises nine individuals, including two Elders and two advisors from the Hesquiaht Band Administration.
Regional Interest in the Project Throughout 2009, the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust has spearheaded a number of projects and events relating to food security issues in Clayoquot Sound. Interest has grown both within communities and at the regional level. Local groups and governments have expressed interest in learning from and replicating the project within their respective communities. The Trust encourages these efforts and supports the building of local capacity to deal with the social, economic, cultural, environmental and nutritional challenges of food security in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve region.
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Community Meeting #1: Public Consultation
Pre-Consultation Meeting It took far longer than anticipated to get the people and logistics lined up to actually hold the first community meeting. Weather, community/family crises, communications delays, availability of food suppliers (part of the reason for the project) and other challenges caused the project team to book and re-book the consultation date three times. On the Wild West coast, patience is critical in spite of work plans and timelines.
Project team members traveled to Hot Springs Cove on November 17 th for a pre- consultation meeting with Hesquiaht community and government leaders and local team members. The group designed the process and plan for the public meeting that was to be held a week later.
Consultation The meeting itself was successful because it not only involved local champions, it allowed them to take leadership of the discussion and sharing, making the community members more receptive and willing to engage. Despite the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust’s history in the region, some of the project team members are unknown to community members and it was very helpful to have familiar and trusted community leaders talking about the importance of the project and helping to define it in terms that would be relevant to the other participants. At the same time, the term “food security” is not clearly understood and does not translate well on a cultural level. The project team members are working with the community members to find Nuu-chah-nulth and English terminology that helps support the project goals and objectives.
The Public Consultation was held on November 24 th , 2009 in Hot Springs Cove. Fifteen community members from Hot Springs Cove (current population of 65) attended the meeting. The ages ranged from 20 to 82. Hesquiaht Elder and Project Team Member Dolores Bayes opened the meeting with a prayer. CBT Project Team member Jean Wylie provided a background information sheet to participants, and an introduction to the project was provided by the four team members present. The consultation took the form of an informal group discussion, which seemed most comfortable to those in attendance. The discussion lasted for two hours and included a catered lunch of bannock and mowitch (deer) stew.
10 Key Messages Some of the key messages shared during the consultation included:
Transportation Challenges: Boats, Trucks and Roads Boats are needed for accessing and harvesting seafood (gooseneck barnacles, clams). The preference would be privately-owned boats rather than community boats. The existing freight boat is owned by Ahousaht First Nation and is expensive to use. There was interest in knowing if the Band could subsidize bulk food deliveries.
Currently, boats are cost prohibitive to the vast majority of community members. One example provided in the discussion was the need for a skiff for harvesting herring, wood and other food and medicine that are not easily accessible by foot. Such a craft would have both a recreational and education purpose as well, allowing the passing on of skills and knowledge to youth.
Trucks are also needed in the community to help access traditional food harvesting sites (medicinal material or wood) along old or un-maintained roads. Even when there is a vehicle, there are times that the weather will not permit access by water and or land due to wash outs and land slides. The community is so remote, they at times feel crippled by the challenges of access, infrastructure and maintenance of transportation routes.
Food Choices, Food Options The community used to have a store that brought in fresh fruits and vegetables. It was as expensive to purchase from the local store as it was to purchase it remotely; however, it was more convenient when produce was available. According to participants in the consultation, people buy frozen vegetables so that they last longer and store in their own freezers. Other than frozen vegetables, those attending the consultation do not bulk buy and felt that the number of people buying bulk was negligible. However, they felt that there may be interest if the price was right and it was fairly simple to do.
Participant also recognized the value of root cellars full of canned food. Seven of the 15 participants presently preserve foods, such as salmon and berries. There were both interest and local available skills that would support canning to preserve foods and eliminate waste of fruit, vegetables and meat. Storage, however, is a challenge both within homes and on properties - people don’t have space for some of these activities.
Gardening and Community Gardening Elder and Team Member Dolores Bayne is a strong supporter and teacher about gardening. She would like to see a community garden for local fresh consumption, and preserving. She also suggested that blackberries, which are abundant throughout the community, could be trained to follow an arbour. This is a practice that her Grandmother employed to increase productivity and yield of the vines. Dolores encouraged individuals to develop container gardens, planters or garden plots in their own immediate “yards”. Four of the local participants had established gardens.
11 Locations for community gardens that were suggested range from the school to Cougar Annie’s garden. The use of greenhouses in these locations to extend the growing season was also proposed, and engaging the school children in a greenhouse project was enthusiastically discussed. It was suggested that the project team familiarize themselves with the Hupacasath 1 Garden Project for an example of community gardening.
They also wanted to explore the viability of greenhouses year round.
Agriculture, Farming and Hunting Interest was expressed in the “ranching” of wild game to supply meat. This could also be a tourism opportunity by providing people with an opportunity to hunt game. Half a dozen participants identified themselves as hunters (duck, geese, deer, seal and grouse) and felt that in addition to fresh meat, they could produce deer jerky as well if a market existed. They also felt that excess fish and vegetables could also be put to market.
While there was an interest expressed in raising chickens, turkeys and pigs, there were also concerns about dealing with sickness and natural predators.
Wildcrafting Thirteen of 15 local participants harvest berries in the territory. Jean Wylie, project team member from Clayoquot Biosphere Trust offered to supply additional information from a wildcrafting presentation delivered at the CBT’s Healthy Food, Healthy Community events in March 2009.
Participants were interested in learning how to prune bushes to obtain more berries. They also talked about the possibility of harvesting kelp, which has not been done in over 50 years by some estimates. Kelp is a nutrient-rich seaweed that can be both dried and pickled. There may be commercial potential for kelp products as well.
Hunting In addition to the game hunting comment above, participants at the meeting raised concerns about sea otters that are devastating traditional foods, such as shellfish, kelp beds, and t’u ćup (sea urchin). Other seafood is also affected, such as crab and cockles.
There was a suggestion that community members should be able to harvest and trade furs to reduce population and re-instate traditional sea beds. Three members identified ownership to trap line trades, inherited from family members.
1 The Hupacasath First Nations traditional territory is approximately 229,000 hectares, which engulfs the whole Alberni Valley. It is a Nuu-chah-nulth Nation located outside of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
12 Food as Medicine, Lifestyle and Traditional Food There was a broad understanding of the role traditional and non-traditional nutritious foods play in decreasing the risk of illness and disease. In addition to education on healthy diet options, there is a significant need to create an opportunity to pass on medicinal teachings.
The conversation also covered the topic of traditional diets. For example, a participant mentioned that in the old days, smoked seal blubber was a delicacy and people miss that. Participants have noticed that the extreme change in diet, coupled with the lack to access wild food has affected the community. They have all lost family members prematurely by cancer and major health concerns that can be attributed in large part to a modern North American diet and lifestyle.
The late and respected Tyee for the Hesquiaht Nation had been spearheading a movement to get his people back on the land practicing traditional stewardship within the Ha’houlthee. This is intimately connected to language and food. Much of the conversation was focused on traditional foods.
There was a conversation around restoring traditional clam beds to historical abundance. The idea of restoration projects is equally relevant for such as berry gardens, root gardens, mussel beds, t’u ćup gathering locations, kelp and seaweed beds and drying areas, as well as salmon restoration.
It was also suggested that “bachelors” are not interested in learning to can, but might be interested in other aspects of food preservation. They don’t necessarily want to garden and cooking is not fun; rather it is just a necessity.
Youth and Children The participants were very much aware of the importance of these issues on the younger generation. In addition to creating opportunities to teach youth and children about traditional healthy diets and food skills, the participants inquired about the lunch program at school. They committed to finding out more information.
Government and Governance Issues The discussion turned to a piece of land upon which the government has restricted access. There is approximately 100 acres that the community would like to access again. It currently has Parks status and some participants expressed interest in reacquiring the land from the government. To this end, they wish to know the status of Parks Canada land in the Hesquiaht peninsula and how to regain access for both food and medicine.
Cecil Sabbas, Hesquiaht Band Administrator, offered compelling comments that helped synthesize the reason for this project. Mr. Sabbas reminded those in attendance that poor dietary choices are contributing to premature death and that this project is really important so that our children are healthier. He also affirmed that healthier food choices have a positive effect on the health system, including lower costs later. Mr. Sabbas very
13 eloquently shared his hopes for the Nation to be self-sufficient and living lives of abundance in all aspects. He concluded that Hesquiaht First Nation wants this project to succeed because it has huge concerns about health. Local leaders do not want their people dying at an early age.
Stephanie Hughes, Project Coordinator for Ecotrust Canada (Clayoquot Forest Communities Program) remarked that the flight out of the community in the afternoon was quite rough, and magnified the need for self-sufficiency as the community is inaccessible for much of the winter months.
Traditional Language and Discussions on Food Security Solutions
“During the discussion, one of the community elders was speaking Nuu-chal-nulth. Because the practice of cultivation, preservation of foods, and feasting is a vibrant part of the Hesquiaht past and present, it seems natural that there is a language connection here.
It has been pointed out to me on many occasions by Elders that quite often there is not a direct translation from Nuu-chal-nulth to English. Nuu-chal-nulth is a language of doing-it is alive with vibrant three dimensional movement, a kaleidoscope of story and meaning that English falls sadly short of. There is often, I have noted in discussion around food, a present tense action that seems part of the act of growing, harvesting and consuming. The telling is not separate from the doing. Trying to capture the essence of this is a challenge. I have been video documenting the meetings to date, and with the permission of individuals and the community would like to include a documentary piece as part of our final report to PHAC. (The video will exclude material that involves medicinal and spiritual traditions of the Hesquiaht Nation).” Stephanie Hughes, Ecotrust Canada, Hesquiaht Food Project Team Member
14 Next Steps The project team will work collaboratively to analyze the key messages and prepare a follow-up framework for action. This will form the basis for the next community meeting. The team has committed to meeting with the community in late January, weather permitting.
Additional Project Research The project team will continue to compile and analyze relevant research that supports the projects goals and objectives. This includes studies and projects that have occurred, regionally, provincially, nationally or internationally. The project team recognizes that a wealth of information exists that could potentially support success in Hesquiaht First Nation communities.
Interviews The project team will continue to gather anecdotal evidence and information from local contributors and users of the regional food supply chain. This will help the team further identify strengths and weakness, opportunities and threats affecting sustainable, healthy food access and affordability in Hesquiaht First Nation.
Site Visits The project team will, with permission of the Hesquiaht leadership, visit and learn more about traditional food harvesting and growing areas, as well as the issues associated with their use.
Regional and Community Connections The project team will continue to promote the project, the process and the eventual outcomes within the Biosphere Reserve Communities, as well as the Canadian Biosphere Reserve network. The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust will use the successes achieved in this project to leverage additional support for the next action-oriented projects focused on improving food security not only in Hesquiaht First Nation, but the other communities within the Biosphere Reserve.
15 Works Cited iArbour, Daniel, Brenda Kuecks, and Danielle Edwards, eds. Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations Governance Structures 2007/2008 . Working paper. Ecotrust Canada, Sept. 2008. Web. Oct. 2009.
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