Deepening the Roots of Food Justice in the Prairies (June 25 & 26, 2024)
Join Us for the "Deeping the Roots of Food Justice" Two-Day Virtual Conference!
📅 Dates: June 25-26, 2024
🖥️ Location: Online via Zoom
Are you passionate about food justice and sustainability? Do you want to be part of a movement to strengthen collaboration, foster innovation, and empower young leaders in the prairie provinces? Then mark your calendars and join us for this virtual two-day conference featuring guest speakers and panellists from across the Prairies!
Core Objectives:
Amplify Grassroots Efforts: Discover and celebrate the incredible work being done by grassroots organizations and individuals in the field of food justice. Learn how collaboration can amplify impact and drive meaningful change.
Foster Food Resiliency: Explore innovative approaches to food growing and distribution in the prairie provinces. Be inspired by new models and strategies that promote resilience and sustainability in our local food systems.
Empower Young Leaders: Hear from young voices who are leading the way in food sovereignty initiatives and education. Learn how we can support and empower the next generation of changemakers in the fight for food justice.
Why Attend?
Expert Insights: Gain valuable insights from experts, activists, and community leaders who are driving positive change in the food justice movement.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded individuals and organizations committed to building a more just and sustainable food system in the prairies.
Actionable Strategies: Leave with practical strategies and tools to implement in your own community, organization, or business to advance food justice and resilience.
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a dynamic and inspiring conference dedicated to amplifying food justice in the prairies. Register now and join us in creating a healthier, more equitable future for all!
🌱 Together, we can make a difference! 🌱
This conference is hosted by Righting Relations Canada, John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and Prairie Food System Vision Network; thanks to the support of the Catherine Donnelly Foundation and Community Services Recovery Grant from the Government of Canada.
Conference Program Outline:
Tuesday, June 25, 2024: OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE (HALF DAY)
1:00 PM MST - Opening Welcome
1:10 - 1:45 PM MST - Setting the Stage/Grounding Ourselves
Opening welcome by Angelica Quesada, Righting Relations Canada;
Speaker: Dr. Priscilla Settee, member of the Cumberland House Swampy Cree First Nations and Professor Emerita, Department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Saskatchewan.
1:45 PM MST - Feeding Justice: Unveiling International Legal Obligations on the Right to Food
Speakers: Renee Vaugeois, John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights
Description: In this brief presentation, Renée Vaugeois will share the legal commitments of the human right to food, exploring its delineation within international law. This presentation illuminates the framework and tools provided by these legal obligations, empowering us to demand governmental accountability and decisive action.
2:00 PM MST: We Are All Treaty People: Reconciling relationships to build healthy, equitable, and regenerative food systems on the Prairies
Speaker: Marla Carlson, Prairie Food System Vision Network
Description: Join the Prairie Food System Network, a Rockefeller Foundation Food System Vision Prize winner, as they share their vision for reimagined food systems on the Prairies. Discover their pioneering approach to investing in food sovereignty and learn insights from their innovative food solutions hubs, shaping a regenerative future by 2050.
2:30 PM MST: Food Sovereignty Work in a Changing Climate
Speaker: Mandee McDonald, Dene Nahjo
Description: What looked like faraway international realities of countries with unpredictable weather patterns has become a common reality in the North. Spring floodings, massive forest fires and yearly evacuations are now expected. In spite of the low footprint of these communities, they are the ones that receive the brunt of the economic impact that aggravates food insecurity during evacuation and post-evacuation. Our Speaker will discuss their experience evacuating Yellowknife due to wildfires and the impacts of these disasters on the community's access to food.
3:00 PM MST - BREAK
5:00 PM MST: Film & Panel Discussion - The Interceptors: Innovating Food Security in Vancouver
Speakers: TJ (featured in the documentary); Colleen Pierce, Stone Soup
Description: Join us for a screening of "The Interceptors," a documentary highlighting a grassroots movement tackling food waste and food poverty in Vancouver. Through the film and ensuing panel discussion, explore the intersection of technology, creativity, and community collaboration in addressing urgent food security challenges while fostering mutual aid networks.
6:30 PM MST - WRAP UP DAY 1
Wednesday, June 26, 2024: FULL DAY CONFERENCE
10:00 AM MST: Opening Welcome
10:00 AM MST: Unearthing Our Roots: Exploring Canada’s Historical Context for For Food Access
Speakers: John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights & Righting Relations Canada
Description: This session engages pivotal historical events that have influenced land access in the country. Through social analysis and dialogue, participants will explore how these events have shaped our social and economic structures. Reflecting on diverse histories, we'll examine their impact on contemporary relations and food access, fostering deeper insights into our shared past and present realities.
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM MST - Two Concurrent Sessions
Session 1: Seeding Change - Exploring Innovative Initiatives for Food Sovereignty
Speakers: Rylan Kafara (LadyFlower Gardens); Sasha Shack and Justin Girard, Young Agrarians
Description: Join us for a workshop showcasing groundbreaking initiatives spanning urban and rural landscapes, dedicated to fostering food sovereignty. Discover how these initiatives challenge conventional norms and empower communities to reclaim control over their food systems and access to land; inspiring transformative change.
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Session 2: Intersecting Rights - Navigating Poverty, Housing and Food Security
Speakers: Bonnie Morton; Dicky Dikamba, CANAVUA; and Dr. Evelyn Forget, University of Manitoba
Description: Join us for a workshop looking at the complex intersections of poverty as it relates to guaranteed basic income, housing crisis, and food security, contextualized within the broader framework of colonization and its impact on Indigenous food systems and beyond. Panelists will unravel these connections, challenging us to transcend silos and foster holistic conversations. The session will explore strategies for systemic change and anti-poverty efforts, as we strive for a comprehensive understanding of human survival and flourishing.
12:00 PM MST: BREAK
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM MST: Two Concurrent Sessions
Session 1: Breaking Bread - Food as a Catalyst for Community, Justice and Resilience
Speakers: Craig Haavaldsen, Rock Soup Greenhouse & Food Bank; Azka, Righting Relations Winnipeg Circle; Kelsey Aitcheson, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan's Intercultural Connections and Anti-Racist Engagement (ICARE) and the Matriarch Collective; and Marie Campeau, Muskowekwan Family Healing & Wellness Centre Inc.
Description: Join us for an exploration of how food fosters community and justice, examining its role in mutual aid initiatives, frontline work, ceremonies, and mental health. Together, we'll discuss strategies for addressing food insecurity amidst a changing climate and advancing food justice principles for a more equitable future.
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Session 2: Rooted Wisdom: Exploring Land-Based and Nature-Based Teaching for Food System Transformation
Speakers: Elizabeth Bekolay and Gloria Greyeyes, One School One Farm; Elder Audrey Logan, Dehydration Nations; and Myles King, Food Matters Manitoba. We will also be showing YouTube videos published by Rocky View Schools featuring Elder Saa'Kokoto (Randy Bottle)
Description: Join us for a dynamic showcase and discussion on the vital role of land-based and nature-based education in reshaping food systems and communities. Discover strategies for making this education accessible and explore its potential as a transformative tool for fostering sustainable relationships with the land, with nature and food.
3:00 PM MST: BREAK
3:30 PM MST: Uniting Voices: Collective Action for Food Sovereignty and Justice
Speakers: Marla Carlson, Prairie Food System Vision Network; Peter Gilmore, Anti-Poverty Ministry; Rebecca MacLeod, New Grocery Movement; Celia Luo, Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative; and Madeline Marmor, nyéléni - international food sovereignty movement
Description: Join us for the closing session as we explore opportunities for coalition building and collective advocacy in the realm of food sovereignty and justice. Together, we'll discuss strategies for continued collaboration, identify key priorities, and chart a path forward toward tangible action and systemic change.
5:00 PM MST: Closing Remarks