From Forest to Fork: Indigenous Sustainability by

cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 14:27:08 UTC

"I come from a tradition where food is not just fuel for the body, it is sacred. It is a time to gather, to connect with the earth, with our ancestors, and with each other." - Chef Sean Sherman, The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen

Resources

cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 14:31:56 UTC

Sherman, S. (2017) The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press.

Yakimchuk, M. (2014). TIAM’S PROMISE Mi’kmaq Legend of the First Moose. [YouTube video].

LaDuke, W. (2011). The Militarization of Indian Country. North Dakota: Fulcrum Pub.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2021). Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems: Insights on Sustainability and Resilience from the Frontline of Climate Change. Retrieved from http://www.far.org/3/cb5131en/cb5131en.pdf

Deep Food Learning Project

cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 14:41:24 UTC

For this assignment we are supposed to develop our own learning and challenge ourselves with food in a sustainable way. For this task, I decided to use my experience that I had last October and shed light to it. During the 2023 Membertou Moose Youth Hunt, I took my children with me to the Cape Breton Highlands to experience this. It was absolutely beautiful!

I am going to show the process of getting our moose meat from the Cape Breton Highlands to our plates. I know this assignment is to challenge myself, and the challenge for me is that I have never cooked with my moose meat before, I always had my mother or my uncles cook it for me.

Warning: You will see a dead moose when you scroll down

Step 1

cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 14:54:55 UTC

I wanted to give a little knowledge on how the moose came to the Mi’kmaw people… here is a video that my cousin Clifford Paul tells the story of Tiam’s Promise. (Tiam is moose in Mi’kmaq)

The process of moose hunting requires a lot of patience and skill. I grew up going to the highlands with my uncles and learning as much as I could from them. They have taught me good morals when it comes to moose hunting and it all comes down to the respect for the moose and all living beings.

A way that Mi'kmaq people sustain our moose populations are practiced as the following:

- Not over-hunting

- Not shooting cows (females)

- No jacking (blinding moose at night and shooting)

- Giving respect to the animals

You need to be prepared when you go moose hunting. You will need the basics such as the truck, a knife, gun & bullets, sacred medicines, and lots of rope.

Step 2

cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 16:06:52 UTC

“Indigenous peoples have been practicing holistic food systems for generations, understanding the inter connectedness of all living beings and the importance of sustainability for future generations.” - Winona LaDuke, The Militarization of Indian Country

Sustainable food practices are deeply rooted in respect for the environment, traditional knowledge, and a holistic understanding of the inter connectedness of all living beings. It encompasses spiritual, emotional, and cultural dimensions that nourish the entire being. After you harvest your moose, you will then offer your medicine and pray to give thanks to the animal for offering their life to feed you.

In Indigenous cultures, food is seen as medicine. Indigenous people believe there is no waste to the animal. For instance, this moose… some people may just throw away the antlers and the legs. I harvested them for an elder because they use these bones to make waltes dice; which is a very old Mi’kmaq traditional game.

Step 3

cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 16:16:41 UTC

After taking our moose to the butcher, this is how much meat we got from the moose above. We can get steaks, burger, roast, and soup meat. We freeze this for the year, and share with our family. The price of meat at the grocery store is at an insane price and this is the more sustainable option. We know where it is coming from, there is no added preservatives, and it is a lot healthier and cheaper.

The feeling of being able to feed yourself, your children, family, and your community is exceptional.

Step 4

cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 16:22:21 UTC

The next couple of pictures below is what I made with my moose meat: Moose Meat Tortilla Bowls.

This is a meal I have made for my household with the moose meat that we have harvested. And let me tell you - It was delicious!

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cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 16:26:11 UTC

It was a very simple dish to make. I have picky children of course. I defrosted my package of moose burger, and added it to my tortilla bowl along with chicken rice, cheese, salsa, and sour cream. I want to make it a goal to cook with wild meat more often because there is so much you can do with it.

“Eating and feeding without destroying. Eating and feeding thanks to Mother Earth’s generosity that needs to be nurtured, protected and respected.“ - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (Pg. 11)

Mother to Mother: Teachings

cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 16:27:54 UTC

My son River (“Sipu” in Mi’kmaq) was about 5 months old in this picture. When we went to the Membertou Youth Hunt, I wanted my children to have the experience no matter what age they were. Indigenous people’s sophisticated territorial and natural resource management practices stems from their close relationships from Mother Earth. As I am learning and a daughter of Mother Earth, it is my job to teach my children as well. I respect Mother Earth, she gives us life, and she allows me to raise my children on her so I can give them life as well. My children are my everything, and I want to make sure that they grow knowing where they came from, where they come from, who they are as Mi’kmaq, and to respect Mother Earth as well.

Community Teaching

cbu16fbp — 2024-03-12 16:38:38 UTC

The Membertou Youth Moose Hunt is something that we will be a part of forever. Some day I will be able to harvest my own moose when I get the right teachings, and then my boys will grow to be young men who can provide for their families as well. I am grateful to be a part of such an amazing community who strives to keep the sustainability of natural resources alive and well.

Wela’lin (Thank You All)