Project Title
Communicating land-use changes of UBC Farm, 1900-present
Sustainable Agriculture Education Association
Organization Information
Organization Name
Sustainable Agriculture Education Association
Mission and Vision of Organization
The Sustainable Agriculture Education Association (SAEA) promotes and supports the development, application, research, and exchange of best teaching and learning practices in sustainable agriculture education and curricula through communication, training, development, and collaborative activities for teachers and learners. The Association is organized exclusively for education purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The goals of the Association are as follows: Promote and advocate the establishment of sustainable agriculture education programs. Promote the collaborative development and exchange of curricula, best educational and experiential learning practices, and research related to the teaching and learning of sustainable agriculture. Provide public forums for addressing issues in sustainable agriculture education teaching and learning. Serve as a vibrant network for individuals and organizations involved in sustainable agriculture education. Engage in activities to aid the professional development of sustainable agriculture educators and students. Serve as an advocate for sustainable agriculture in other contexts and in collaboration with other organizations relevant to sustainable agriculture education. Obtain public and private funds to collaboratively develop and exchange sustainable agriculture education and curricula at all educational levels and with the general public. Attract talented, bright individuals to teach and work in the field of sustainable agriculture. Contribute to the growth of sustainable agriculture in the U.S. and abroad (within grassroots and educational institutions, farms, businesses, etc.)
Contact Information
- Primary Contact Person: Elizabeth Dean
- Email: saea.information[at]gmail.com
- Phone: N/A
- Address:
- Website: [1]Sustainable Agriculture Education Association
Preferred Method of Contact
- Best method(s) to contact: Email
- Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
- Best time(s) to contact: Afternoon
Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration
- Zoom
Project Description
Context/Background
SAEA will be hosting its conference at the UBC Farm in July 2024. The theme of the conference is "Confronting Colonialism in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Education Programs". The conference organizers would like to develop a visual and text-supported communication piece that depicts the changes that have occurred since the invention of the UBC Point Grey campus (circa 1910) to present, focusing specifically on UBC Farm lands and the surrounding area. This will help the conference participants better understand the history of colonialism and the impacts on the land that they are visiting.
Food Systems Issue(s) Addressed in this Project
"Without diminishing the empirical and analytic traditions of western science, we de-center its primacy in order to make space for other perspectives and ways of knowing. This includes (but is not limited to) advancing pedagogical practices that explore the history and traditions of Indigenous peoples, creating courses and curricula that integrate de-colonizing food systems theory and practice, and developing conferences that intentionally bring together scientists/academics, farmers, farm- and food workers, and Indigenous peoples from the host location."
- Sustainable Agriculture Education Association (SAEA)'s Equity Statement
Main Project Activities
- Conduct archival research on land-use at UBC and the UBC Farm, locating images, news media, and institutional (UBC) artifacts
- Collate findings into a digital artifact that can be shared prior to the conference and used within the conference sessions as well
Main Project Deliverables
- A digital artifact that can be shared prior to the conference and used within the conference sessions as well
Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)
- Curiosity and excitement to learn more about the history of colonialism and its impacts on land-use on Canada
- Interest in designing and creating on-line media and artifacts
Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?
- No
Will the project take place online, in person, or a combination?
- Online
Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?
- No
How much self-direction is expected from the students?
- Deciding on the project deliverable(s): Equal leadership between students and community partner
- Developing the activity plan and timeline: Equal leadership between students and community partner
- Scheduling and initiating the communication plan (e.g. weekly Zoom check-in, biweekly email update, etc.): Equal leadership between students and community partner
- Implementing the activity plan: Equal leadership between students and community partner
- Finalizing the deliverable(s): Led by students
Required Reading
Project/Partner Orientation Materials
Students should review these materials prior to the first partner meeting:
- Review our website to get a better sense of the organization - https://sustainableaged.org/
- Stein, S. (2022). Unsettling the university: Confronting the colonial foundations of US higher education. JHU Press. (Retrieved through UBC Library)
- Davies, N. (2021). Indigenous agriculture is a Land Back issue
- Desmarais, A.A. & Wittman, H. (2014) Farmers, foodies and First Nations: getting to food sovereignty in Canada. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 41(6), 1153-1173 DOI: 10.1080/03066150.2013.876623
Additional Materials
- Learning, food, and sustainability: Sites for resistance and change (2016). New York: Palgrave MacMillan. Available from UBC Library.
- Curriculum Guide to Anti-Racism (BC Ministry of Education)
- Indigenous education resources (BC Ministry of Education)
- Dring, C.C. (2023). " Planning for social justice in agricultural landscapes: Exceptionalism, misrecognition, and exclusion in Southwestern British Columbia." In Agricultural planning, justice, and municipal governance : an examination of planning conflicts, pluralism, and complexity in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. University of British Columbia. Retrieved from https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0431364