Join us for this exciting all-day gathering bringing together Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to build community, share food and ideas, and get inspired by initiatives happening in other communities.

Program:

• 9:00am: Registration opens (tea and coffee available)
• 10:00am: Welcome and opening address
• 10:30am: Overview of the day and invitation to participate in arts-based activities
• 11:00am: Introductions followed by social songs and dancing
• 12:00pm: Buffet lunch featuring locally-produced traditional foods & Makers Marketplace
• 1:30pm: Panel session: Gather inspiration from three incredible panelists as they share stories of building community and coming together to support Indigenous food systems.
• 3:00pm: Break – Makers Marketplace (tea and coffee available)
• 3:30pm: Discussion: What do we need to reach our memories, hopes and dreams for thriving Indigenous food systems?
• 4:30pm: Closing and goodbye

Indigenous Growers, Artisans and Makers Marketplace

During lunch and breaks be sure to visit the folks selling, trading and/or raising awareness about their products and services at the Marketplace!

If you are an Indigenous grower, artisan or maker and would like to have a table at the Marketplace, please fill out this form.

Arts-based Activities:

Social Songs & Dancing

Join in as local Indigenous dancers lead us in social songs and dances. This will be a great opportunity to meet others, have some fun and get moving!

Placing Ourselves

Participants are invited to co-create a “needs and offers” map that will provide a visual representation of where we each call home, as well as skills or resources we can share with others and skills we would like to learn.

Quilting a Vision

Throughout the gathering participants are encouraged to reflect on the question: What do your memories/hopes/dreams for a thriving Indigenous food system look like? and illustrate their answer on a paper “quilt square” using collage, drawings and/or words. These individual squares will be joined together as the day goes on to create a “quilt” that represents a collective vision for Indigenous food sovereignty.

About the Speakers:

Chandra Maracle was born and raised on the West side of Buffalo and is the mother of four daughters. She studied at SUNY Cortland College, University at Buffalo, NY and University of Salamanca, Spain. She has worked as Youth Leader at Native American Community Services in Buffalo, Graduate Assistant in Native American Studies at UB and Cultural Resource Specialist at the Native American Magnet School #19. She was a Diversity Educator with the National Conference for Community and Justice, co-founder of the Indigenous Women’s Initiatives and has certifications in Postpartum Care, Eating Psychology, Massage, Reiki and Yoga and is trained as a Waldorf Early Childhood Educator. Chandra is co-founder HAWI – Haudenosaunee and Waldorf Inspired and was a co-founder of Skaronhyase’ko:wa Tyohterakentko:wa tsi Yontaweya’tahkwa/the Everlasting Tree School, and initiated the school’s nutrition program – Tyonnhehkwen Onkwaya’takenha:tshera. She was a collaborator on the Healthy Roots committee at Six Nations and developed the Haudenosaunee Food Guide for the Community Challenge. Chandra is founder of Kakhwa’on:we/Real People Eat Real Food, exploring links between people, food, mothering, homemaking, art, language, technology and land. She is a graduate of the Onkwawen:na Kentyohkwa adult Mohawk language immersion program, and is currently a PhD student at York University in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Chandra is a Collaborator on The Earth to Tables Legacies Project, a group of intergenerational and intercultural folks transforming the food system.

Kara Tremblay is an Algonquin Cree woman and a dedicated community member of Apitipi Anicinapek Nation. Throughout her time in the community, she has consistently demonstrated her passion and commitment through various roles and numerous acts of service. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kara’s awareness of food insecurity deepened as she witnessed the struggles faced by her community. This inspired her to expand her knowledge and address these critical issues, leading her to pursue education in sustainable agriculture and earn a Business Agriculture Co-op diploma from Northern College and Algonquin College. Her commitment is driven by a desire to enhance her gardening skills and ensure her community has access to nutritious, high-quality produce.

Kara’s vision for Leading Cloud Gardens is both expansive and inspiring. She dreams of establishing a hydroponics center, a cold storage room, and a three-season greenhouse to extend the growing season and provide ample space for cultivating food. She envisions community members coming together to engage in all aspects of gardening—from soil preparation and planting seeds, trees, and shrubs to weeding, harvesting, composting, and seed collecting. Through these activities, Kara hopes to instill a strong sense of ownership, pride, and connection to the land, creating a resilient and sustainable food system for future generations.

Tayohseron:tye, Nikki Auten is a proud mother and tota (grandmother). She is Kanyen’keha:ka (Mohawk), turtle clan from Tyendinaga. She is currently employed as an Instructor at First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI). Nikki has been involved in several food-centered projects over the past 10 years, including the Flint Corn Community Project; the Kenhte:ke Seed Sanctuary; Learning Centre; the Hwy 15 Indigenous Food Sovereignty Garden; and the Living Relations Research Project, to name a few. Nikki’s education background is in Kanyen’keha language, Teacher’s Education, Indigenous Studies, and Sustainability Studies. She is a self-described lifelong learner.

Tiffany Traverse is an Indigenous seed and land steward at Fourth Sister Farm, a guest in the Peace Region of what’s now known as BC, on Treaty 8 territory, homeland of the Dane-zaa peoples. Having grown up on her Great Grandparent’s homestead, on her peoples’ traditional Secwépemc territory in the Columbia Valley, Tiffany’s love for growing food and stewarding the land, comes as naturally as breathing.

Chloe Maracle is Kayen’keha:ka (Mohawk), Turtle Clan born and raised in Kenhte:ke (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory). She has been in the role of garden intern with the Kenhte:ke Seed Sanctuary and Learning Center for over 2 years where she has been learning the care and cultivation of a seed collection of close to 300 varieties. Her passions include gardening, sports & fitness, being an Auntie and hanging out with her dog, Honey.

Becky Big Canoe is an accomplished AnishinaabeKwe mother, sustainable housing proponent, writer, artist, activist and powwow dancer. She lives on Georgina Island. She is currently actively involved in the Mno Aki Land Trust.

This gathering is taking place ahead of EFAO’s Annual Conference. Stay on for another two days of knowledge sharing and community building!