What Does Food Sovereignty Mean to the Homalco Community? by Caitlyn Harrison B.A. (English Literature & Psychology), University of British Columbia, 2014 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Urban Studies in the Urban Studies Program Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences © Caitlyn Harrison 2019 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Spring 2019 Copyright in this work rests with the author. Please ensure that any reproduction or re-use is done in accordance with the relevant national copyright legislation. Approval Name: Caitlyn Harrison Degree: Master of Urban Studies Title: What Does Food Sovereignty Mean to the Homalco Community? Examining Committee: Chair: Patrick J. Smith Professor, Urban Studies and Political Science Karen Ferguson Senior Supervisor Professor, Urban Studies and History Meg Holden Supervisor Professor, Urban Studies and Geography Kamala Todd External Examiner Indigenous Cultural Planner and Filmmaker Date Defended/Approved: January 23, 2019 ii Ethics Statement iii Abstract Colonization and urbanization have had devastating impacts on Indigenous food systems, the repercussions of which are still salient today. However, research shows that food sovereignty has the potential to strengthen Indigenous communities and improve health outcomes. This thesis explores how the idea of food sovereignty is conceptualized by the Homalco Nation in the city of Campbell River and what opportunities and barriers exist in realizing this model of food sovereignty. For this research, I engaged in open-ended conversations with Homalco community members in order to hear their food stories. Participants’ stories demonstrated the significance of land, specific foods, customs and values for Homalco food sovereignty and served to highlight key barriers and opportunities relating to this conceptualization of food sovereignty. This research contributes to the larger body of literature surrounding urban Indigenous food sovereignty by providing insight into what this idea may look like at the community level. Keywords: Indigenous food sovereignty; Indigenous food systems; Homalco First Nation; traditional foods; Indigenous self-determination; decolonization iv Acknowledgements First and foremost, I acknowledge that Simon Fraser University is situated on unceded Coast Salish land, including the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples and that I conducted this research on the unceded territory of the Homalco, K’omoks and Kwakwaka’wakw Nations. I would like to thank the Homalco Nation for collaborating with me on this project and welcoming me into their community. In particular, thank you to Ella Paul and Chief Blaney for their support, as well as the community members who generously shared their food stories. I am truly grateful for this opportunity. Special thanks to my supervisor Karen Ferguson for her feedback, encouragement and support during this experience. I would also like acknowledge the Urban Studies faculty, staff and students who consistently challenged and inspired me throughout my degree. Finally, I am so grateful to my family and friends for always loving and supporting me (special shout out to my mom for being both a sounding board and proof-reader throughout the entire process) - I love you all! v Table of Contents Approval ............................................................................................................................ ii Ethics Statement .............................................................................................................. iii Abstract ............................................................................................................................ iv Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. vi List of Figures .................................................................................................................. vii Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 2. Literature Review ....................................................................................... 5 2.1. The Effects of Colonization and Urbanization on Indigenous Food Systems ......... 5 2.2. Indigenous Food Sovereignty: A Living Concept .................................................... 8 2.3. Barriers and Opportunities for Indigenous Food Sovereignty ............................... 11 Chapter 3. Methodology ............................................................................................. 15 3.1. Indigenous Research Methodologies ................................................................... 15 3.2. Conversations with Community Members ............................................................ 28 Chapter 4. Connections: Food and Community ...................................................... 30 4.1. Stories of Home: The People of Fast Running Waters ......................................... 31 4.2. Stories of Community: Sharing, Service and Humility in Homalco Culture .......... 35 4.3. Stories About Food Traditions .............................................................................. 39 Winter is here… ....................................................................................................... 41 Spring is here… ....................................................................................................... 46 Summer is here… .................................................................................................... 47 Fall is here… ............................................................................................................ 53 Chapter 5. Health and Healing Through Food ......................................................... 57 Land at the Center ........................................................................................................... 59 5.1. Barriers to Food Sovereignty ................................................................................ 62 5.1.1. Sustainability ................................................................................................. 63 5.1.2. Economics ..................................................................................................... 69 5.1.3. Health ............................................................................................................ 75 5.1.4. Generations and Youth ................................................................................. 83 5.2. Opportunities for Food Sovereignty ...................................................................... 88 5.2.1. Urban Opportunities ...................................................................................... 89 5.2.2. Leadership and Community Initiatives .......................................................... 93 5.2.3. Towards the Future: Engaging Youth in Homalco Culture ............................ 97 Chapter 6. Conclusion ............................................................................................. 103 References ................................................................................................................... 107 vi List of Figures Figure 1 Medicine wheel depicting the components of Indigenous food sovereignty. .............................................................................................. 24 Figure 2 Map depicting Campbell River in relation to the Bute Inlet (in green) and Church House .......................................................................................... 31 Figure 3 Seasons booklet cover (old picture of Church House in the center) ........ 40 Figure 4 The layers of food sovereignty ................................................................. 55 Figure 5 Medicine wheel depicting the components of Indigenous food sovereignty. .............................................................................................. 58 Figure 6 The Bute Inlet ........................................................................................... 59 vii Chapter 1. Introduction Indigenous peoples in Canada have practiced sustainable food harvesting methods for thousands of years. At the center of Indigenous food systems1 has always been a relationship of reciprocity and responsibility to the earth that has provided for them. Knowledge of these food systems and the cultural practices and traditions associated with them is passed down through generations. However, colonization and urbanization have had devastating impacts on all aspects of Indigenous life, including the degradation of Indigenous food systems (Morrison, 2011; Coté, 2016; Matties, 2016). These effects are still salient today: Indigenous peoples suffer disproportionately from food insecurity issues including limited access to healthy, affordable and culturally appropriate food, and higher risks of certain diseases related to diet (Morrison, 2011, Cidro et al. 2015; Mosby & Galloway, 2017). Furthermore, many Indigenous people now live in cities, often away from their traditional land, which adds another set of challenges to accessing adequate food that is culturally relevant (Patrick & Budach, 2014; Cidro et al, 2015). However, research shows that food has the potential to help strengthen Indigenous communities and improve their health outcomes