Project Title
Traditional Foods in School Meal Programs
Organization Name
Keywords
Traditional foods, Indigenous foods, country foods, school meals, breakfast program, Indigenous food sovereignty
Related Course Concepts
Asset based community development, Indigenous food sovereignty
Organization Information
Organization Name
Mission and Vision of Organization
Breakfast Club of Canada is a Canada-wide non-profit that has worked for the last 25 years to provide nutritious breakfasts to students before class each morning. Our mission is to ensure that all students have access to a healthy breakfast in a safe, supportive environment so that they can do their best in school. Today, we support over 1,800 schools across Canada, serving breakfast to over 200,000 students each morning.
Guiding Principles + Values
We work to promote the core values of engagement, enrichment and empowerment, and we team up with communities and local partners to develop solutions adapted to their specific needs
Contact Information
- Primary Contact Person(s): Chelsey Hazelton
- Email: chelsey.hazelton@breakfastclubcanada.org
- Phone: 1 866 794-4900 # 3720
- Address: c/o 411-470 Granville Street, Van. BC
- Website: breakfastclubcanada.org
Preferred Method of Contact
- Best method(s) to contact: Email
- Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
- Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons
Project Description
This project will identify tools, regulations, challenges, and best practices when considering the incorporation of traditional/country foods into Indigenous school food programs across Canada. Students will work to gather and organize information through online research pertaining to Indigenous food sovereignty including:
a) existing Indigenous food guides;
b) healthy traditional/country food recipes; and
c) examples of school food programs incorporating traditional/country foods into their programs, and associated challenges (regulatory, environmental, logistical) faced by schools when incorporating these foods.
Students will also engage in stakeholder mapping through outlining individuals/groups, regional/national organizations and Indigenous health authorities in all provinces and territories in Canada, excluding Quebec, who are actively working on Indigenous food sovereignty.
What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?
Breakfast Club of Canada will have access to an extensive body of research, including relevant resources about culturally appropriate foods, unique considerations when working with indigenous communities on food sovereignty initiatives, and up-to-date best practices in this field. Staff will also have a better understanding of the diverse stakeholder groups and the work they are doing in Indigenous food sovereignty.
Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)
- Experience and/or knowledge of Indigenous communities.
- Experience synthesizing data using social science methods, including qualitative analysis
- Good written and oral communication skills
- Strong organizational skills
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel
Student Assets and Skills (to be developed through the project)
- Collaboration skills with teammates and the BCC staff
- Professional communication skills
- Time management
- Stakeholder mapping and analysis
Is a criminal record check required?
No
Project Location
The majority of the work will be done remotely, with occasional meetings via Skype. Students will also have the opportunity to visit a local school’s breakfast program at the beginning of the term.
Preferred Days of Week and Hours
TBD by group members
Project/Partner Orientation Materials
Students should review these materials prior to the first partner meeting:
- About our organization
- First Nations Traditional Foods Fact Sheets
- Healthy Food Guidelines for First Nations Communities
- Elliot, B. et. al (2012). "We are not being heard": Aboriginal perspectives on traditional foods access and food security. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/130945
Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials
The following will be provided at the first community partner meeting:
- N/A
Related Community Service Opportunities for Students
Students will have the opportunity to visit a school breakfast program at the beginning of the term.
Expected Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
I hope students will learn about...
- School meal programs, youth education, Indigenous food sovereignty, public health, stakeholder mapping in a charitable organization setting.
I think students will come to appreciate...
- The knowledge they will gain about school meal programs and Indigenous food sovereignty in Canada.
Through this project, students will develop...
- An understanding of the work that goes into building a toolbox of resources that meets the needs of a culturally specific population.
Organizational Outcomes
Intended Short Term (Project) Outcome
- Indigenous schools will be have access to accessible resources for increasing the use of traditional/country foods in their breakfast programs.
- Coordinators will have the tools necessary to work on future community development projects specific to Indigenous food sovereignty.
Medium Term Outcomes
If the student project is part of a larger project at your organization, how will the students' work contribute to the goals of this larger project?
- Indigenous students will have greater access to culturally relevant, traditional/country foods in their breakfast programs
- Breakfast program coordinators will develop community development projects specific to Indigenous food sovereignty.
How does the student project contribute to your organization's mission and long-term vision?
This project will be invaluable in contributing to the Breakfast Club of Canada’s goals:
- We believe all children deserve an equal chance at success.
- We believe a child can not learn on an empty stomach.
- We believe a healthy breakfast can change a life, a journey, a society.