25. Unique Get Together Society

Organization Information

Organization Name

Unique Get Together Society (UGTS)

Mission

Here at Unique Get Together Society, we see the value in everyone. We are dedicated to empowering Indigenous, marginalized and underserved communities, individuals and families. Dedicated to strengthening their overall physical, mental, social-emotional, and spiritual development. To assist families, communities and individuals through our programs such as nutritional health, family support advocacy and subsidies. We are here to fight racial and other social inequalities with love and compassion.

Guiding Principles + Values

Please visit our website for more information.

Contact Information

• Primary Contact Person(s): Debra Abraham
• Email: [[Mailto:debra@ugts.ca|debra [at] ugts [dot] ca]]
• Phone: 236 317 3153
• Address: #500 - 610 Main Street, Vancouver, BC
• Website: https://www.uniquegettogethersociety.com/

Preferred Method of Contact

• Best method(s) to contact: Email or Riipen
• Best day(s) to contact: Flexible
• Best time(s) to contact: Flexible

Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration

• Emails, text messages, and through Riipen

Project Description

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have had food sovereignty. That is, food that has sustained Indigenous people generations upon generations, since time immemorial. The sustenance and immensity of what was here upon Turtle Island was from one end of Turtle Island to the other in all four directions.

However, sustainability has been eroded to such an extent through many interruptions in how Indigenous peoples cared for the lands and sustained growth of the Indigenous Nations. As a result, many Indigenous peoples have had to endure very unhealthy foods. Not only have these foods been unhealthy, but continue to have a devastating impact on healthy nutrition.

Therefore, we must identify those foods, which are not significantly difficult to do. Once these elements are done, then can Indigenous people become truly self-sustaining in their food sovereignty.

Given these experiences, a food security and long-lasting food stabilization in a new programming context of a sustainability program which must be undertaken to ensure longevity of the Indigenous peoples' who are most acutely suffering from a lack of nutritional traditional foods. Indigenous peoples have sustained themselves with traditional foods and these endeavours can't be emphasized enough, due to the reality that these foods will continue to fulfill healthier outcomes for various reasons with respect to nutrients, which have given many First Nations sustained growth.

UGTS's Essential Food Hamper Program focuses on delivery of food hampers containing fruits, vegetables fish, meat and poultry to reservation in the lower mainland and eventually British Columbia.

Will the project work for the students be online, in person, or a combination?

• Online

Main Project Activities

• Support for our Indigenous food sovereignty work, to be determined with community partner
• Activities could include: researching and writing grants for Unique Get Together Food Security Hamper Delivery on Reservation services.
• Completing several grant applications for Unique Get Together Society including federal and private grants.

Expected Project Deliverable(s)

• A guest blog entry for our website
• Additional deliverable(s) as determined with community partner. E.g. completed grant application(s) - details to be decided with the community partner at the first meeting

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Strong writing abilities
• Understanding of colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous food sovereignty

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

• No

Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?

• No

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

• Flexible

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

• TBD

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Students should familiarize themselves with these materials prior to the first partner meeting:

• [1]https://app.riipen.com/projects/wzPW69Oy/details
• Overview of UGTS's current projects
• https://www.uniquegettogethersociety.com/
• Map the System (2021) - global award-winning collaboration between UGTS and LFS students

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

• TBD