Project Brief
Our proposed research seeks to further knowledge about current food sovereignty practices amongst T’Sou-ke Nation, while investigating what supports the community needs to secure infrastructure for their food sovereignty efforts. The objectives for this study include: to formalize community food sovereignty goals; to identify traditional food practices as well as barriers to incorporating these practices in everyday life; to determine what supports are required for sustained infrastructure within the community; and, to explore the concept of food as a renewable energy source through an Indigenous lens.
We have been working with Chief Gordon to finalize these plans, along with Christine George who is the Band Office administrator and coordinates the Ladybug Garden and Greenhouse in the community. Fiona Devereaux, a dietitian with Island Health, has also been a great support to this project and land-based initiatives taking place at T’Sou-ke.
Project Updates
Brianna and Hannah last travelled out to T’Sou-ke in October 2019. They spent some time in the greenhouse helping prepare for the cold weather and were able to share some of Brianna’s preliminary results with community members who participated in a sharing circle in August. They also met with Chief Gordon, took part in a community dinner and met guests from nearby communities who were there presenting on a new marine sovereignty project.
Since then, Brianna Poirer has also successfully defended her Master’s thesis and is currently working as a Research Assistant at the University of Adelaide, in Australia! Brianna and Hannah are working on two manuscripts for publication, and Hannah is making plans to travel to T-Sou-ke for additional data collection in the spring.
Salal berries, T-Sou’ke First Nation, British Columbia
Shellfish harvesting, T-Sou’ke First Nation, British Columbia
Sea urchins, T-Sou’ke First Nation, British Columbia
Objectives
This research projects seeks to further knowledge about current food sovereignty practices amongst T’Sou-ke Nation, while investigating what supports the community needs to secure the infrastructure of their food sovereignty efforts. The objectives for this study include: to formalize community food sovereignty goals; to identify traditional food practices as well as barriers to incorporating these practices in everyday life; to determine what supports are required for sustained infrastructure within the community; and, to explore the concept of food as a renewable energy source through an Indigenous lens.
Project Team
Co-Leads
Hannah Tait Neufeld, Chief Gordon Planes
Project Assistant
Brianna Poirier
Collaborators
T’Sou-ke Nation https://www.tsoukenation.com/