East Coast Two Spirit Society

https://www.npr.org//north-dakota-and-native-american-trib

/anadisgoi.com/archive/2756-cherokee-nation-first-tribe-in-u-s-to-send-heirloom-seeds-to-global-seed-vault-in-norway

https://www.newsday.com//burial-grounds-legislation-shinne

Why is eating traditional foods important? I presented at an event a few days ago and as always I walked in with no prepared speech or notes, just my knowledge ...and passion to back me up. As I sat listening to the other speakers present I fumbled through the days agenda and found my panel discussion listed. In the notes, in the agenda, it said that one topic of my panel was, What is the importance of eating traditional foods? My brain started running wild with reasons why it is important to eat our foods. But every thought led to the same conclusion, our foods foster culture. I'd think of salmon, then of smoke houses, then of wood harvesting, and dip netting. I'd think of Clams, then of dried clams and their traditional trade value, then of digging sticks, and of clam gardens, and of the stories about clams. I'd think about berries, then berry fruit leather, then think about berry combs, then think about how huckleberries are called Sqwuw'tsus which loosely translates to hit with your fingers. Every food I could think of was the result of a massive system of traditional food production that was rooted in teachings and culture. It all became abundantly clear. Without the act of eating traditional foods, the systems that are utilized to provide these foods will crumble and the culture and teachings will crumble along with them. Think of traditional foods like an apple tree Traditional Foods are the Apples, the end result of complex system that produces food. Cooking Techniques are the Leaves, transforming energy into food. Preservation Techniques are the Branches, supporting the distribution of our foods. Food Harvesting is the Trunk of the Tree, the main work from which all food is derived. Tool Making is the Base of the Tree, stabilizing and making food production easier. Teachings are the Roots of the Tree, feeding and giving life to the traditional food production system. If you want to zoom in on the diagram check out the PDF version for full high quality action! https://drive.google.com//1jlv62SsK75s0Zw5t8Dk_4Ivo2/view First Nations Food Facts - Salish people traditionally ate a diet of 75-90% seafood -Dried Salmon and Clams can keep for years in a cool dry place - Cowichan was once a major producer of Dried Clams for trade - BC first nations have a 40% higher chance of becoming diabetic than non first nations in BC - Forty-six percent of First Nations households are food insecure, with 9.5% of households classified as marginally food insecure, 27.9% moderately food insecure and 8.9% severely food insecure When you know who you are; when your mission is clear and you burn with the inner fire of unbreakable will; no cold can touch your heart; no deluge can dampen your purpose. You know that you are alive. - Chief Seattle Sulhtun - Food Ulhtun Eat Qwext Garden Saxwa Clam Kweykwi Hungry Pi'qwun Cooking over a fire on a Pi'qwun stick Xthum Bentwood Box Sulhtunulhp - Vegetables Xexe - Sacred #myexistenceisresistance #cowichanstrong #salishfire #makeyoureldersproud #teachings #salish #firstnations #Indigenize #Decolonize