Project Title
Indigenous Community Food Network Seed Library & Seed Bank Development
Organization Information
Organization Name
Mission and Vision of Organization
Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council supports its member nations in realizing their efforts towards self-reliance, self-governance, connection to culture, and quality of life now and for future generations. The Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council Community Food Network (NmTC CFN) is a virtual space for NmTC member First Nations working in a variety of food-related roles within their communities to come together to share and develop their ideas, knowledge and skills on a variety of food topics, brainstorm through challenges they may be facing, and encourage and uplift one another in their work.
Guiding Principles + Values
O'siem or Emot (Respect)
We respect each other in all that we say and do. We build trusting relationships based on open and honest communication, transparency, sharing, and inclusiveness. We treat everyone with dignity, understanding and respect.
Culture
We are mindful of our cultural values, respectfully seeking cultural guidance from our elders and echoing their teachings in the performance of our duties. We respect, understand and learn from the past so that we can grow the good, share and revitalize our traditional languages and practices, and reflect cultural pride in all we do.
Listening
We listen with a peaceful heart and help each other to understand, succeed, and realize our shared goals and the individual needs and goals of our communities.
Naut'sa mawt or Ay'Ajuthum (Collaboration)
We work together as one, collaborating with our member nations for the common good of our communities by sharing knowledge and best practices, building skills through professional development, connecting with each other, and developing a vision for a sustainable future.
Providing Value
Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council is a values-based learning organization that adapts to, aligns with, and strategically supports the professional development of members and member nations. We are flexible, innovative and creative in our delivery of programs and services, fostering an enjoyment of lifelong learning through storytelling and real-world applications. We maximize member outcomes and benefits by removing barriers, networking, and fulfilling needs through mentorships, the sharing of knowledge, and best practices.
Integrity
We stand with our member nations, building relationships at high corporate and government levels based upon a foundation of professionalism, accountability, and ethics.
Contact Information
- Primary Contact Person(s): Seanna Johnston, she/her
- Email: seannaj@nautsamawt.com
- Phone: 2502210171
- Address: North Vancouver
- Website: https://www.nautsamawt.org/communityfoodnetwork
Preferred Method of Contact
- Best method(s) to contact: Email
- Best day(s) to contact: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
- Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons
Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration
- Phone, Zoom
Project Description
Note: This project will take place mostly online
Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?
The goal of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council's Community Food Network is to increase food security and food sovereignty within our member Nations and support Nations beyond our Tribal Council. In addition to maintaining and increasing traditional food practices, many of our member Nations have expressed interest in gardening and farming. A few of our member Nations have existing community gardens, while others are in the process of developing them.
One initiative to support our member Nations in their community garden goals, is to develop a seed library & seed bank. The seed library would be a place for our member Nations to access quality seeds, as well as a place to learn about seed sovereignty, seed saving techniques and to share seeds amongst each other. In addition, many of our member Nations have brought up the importance of protecting traditional plants and medicines and the knowledge that surrounds them. The seed bank would be a digital & physical bank of seeds, plants and knowledge that our member Nations and other Nations can contribute to and draw from.
Challenges this project aims to address
- limited access to high-quality regionally and/or traditionally relevant seeds
- limited access to high-quality food crop seedlings
- limited or no access to specific traditional plants & medicines (not all Indigenous plants are carried in nurseries)
- lack of information on propagating, transplanting & growing traditional plants & medicines
- no existing space/avenue for Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council Nation to Nation sharing of seeds & seed/plant knowledge
- threats to biodiversity and traditional plants & medicines
Main Project Activities and Deliverables
LFS 350 students will assist in the creation of a seed library & seed bank project design and implementation plan.
Background research will include:
- literature review/case studies of similar projects
- compile informational documents (other organizations with success stories, recommended successful practices)
- compile a spreadsheet with contacts, organizations or businesses for buying plants & seeds, etc
Project design and implementation plan may include:
- written report
- digital resource/toolkit (development -- completion not expected)
- media creation such as infographics & pamphlets
Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)
- Knowledge of and/or experience working with Coast Salish First Nations
- Cultural humility and competency related to working with Indigenous communities (and openness to learn)
- Understanding of how colonialism continues to disrupt traditional food systems (or openness to learn)
- Experience working with plants (gardening, farming, seed saving, foraging/wildcrafting, etc.)
- Self-motivated, creative, and detail-oriented
- Interest or experience with infographics and design
Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?
- No
Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?
- No
How much self-direction is expected from the students?
- Deciding on the project deliverable(s): Mostly led by community partner, with some student input
- 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 (e.g. surveying stakeholder groups): Equal leadership between students and community partner
- Finalizing the deliverables: Mostly led by students, with some community partner input
Related Community Service Opportunities for Students
- N/A
Required Reading
Project/Partner Orientation Materials
Students should review the following materials prior to the first partner meeting. Additional orientation materials may be provided at the first partner meeting.
- Please familiarize yourself with our organization: https://www.nautsamawt.org/about-nautsamawt
- For project inspiration and resources:
Additional Resources
Expected Outcomes
Intended Short-term Project Outcome
Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council's Community Food Network has a seed library & seed bank project design and implementation plan to be able to provide access to seeds, seedlings and seed and plant knowledge to its member Nations
Learning Outcomes
Through this project, I think students will learn about...
- seed saving, seed sovereignty and Indigenous seed sovereignty
- designing and implementing food security programs/initiatives
- Coast Salish traditional plants & medicines
- existing seed library and seed bank projects
- community food networks
- Indigenous food sovereignty
By working on this project, I think students will develop skills and/or awareness of...
- food security program development & implementation planning
- digital resource development
- resource curating
- working with Indigenous organizations
By the end of the project, I believe students will come to appreciate...
- the importance of Indigenous seed sovereignty
- the work that goes into developing food security programs/initiatives