THE INDIGENOUS CIRCLE — B Y C H A R L E S Z . L E V K O E
People from many walks of life From these efforts, the idea for Executive Committee member The successful establishment of created Thunder Bay’s Food Charter the Indigenous Circle was born. Jessica McLaughlin took on the the Indigenous Circle demands in 2008. Public meetings, discussions The initial aim was to reduce first steps of this process, meeting confronting our shared histories, and workshops developed the food insecurity, increase food with over 40 Indigenous-led learning from Indigenous food Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy self-determination and establish organizations and organizations efforts, and engaging in actions that (TBAFS) in 2014. Today, the TBAFS is meaningful relationships with the that support Indigenous peoples. transform current relationships. This made up of over 40 organizational settler population through food. To build sustainable food systems engagement is part of a necessary representatives, ten executive Drawing on concepts of Indigenous in the Thunder Bay region that are process of trust and relationship council members and seven food sovereignty that emphasize a rooted in social and ecological building with food as a starting point. regional municipalities, yet there re-connection to land-based food justice, Indigenous peoples need has been little formal engagement and political systems, the Indigenous the opportunity to take a leadership The graphic above was completed with Indigenous organizations. Circle aims to support and develop role. The Indigenous Circle hopes to by participants at the Understanding Recognizing a unique opportunity the capacity of Indigenous peoples facilitate more discussions around Our Food Systems Gathering, March to explore food as a tool for to gather and discuss the many the topic of decolonization and has 28-29. Fourteen communities along reconciliation and resurgence, the challenges and opportunities to partnered with the TBAFS to develop Hwy 11/17 gathered to discuss TBAF Executive committee began improve food programming and and deliver culturally relevant potential solutions to their shared to focus on developing partnerships policy. programs as well as anti-racism and food access and affordability issues. with Indigenous leaders and anti-oppression trainings. organizations to better understand the barriers and opportunities to engagement. Northwest Nosh | 13