A ‘Community Dialogue on Food Sovereignty’ workshop will be held on on October 23 at McArthur Place.
Bryanna Kumpula, a solution hub animator for the Prairie Food System Vision Network (PFSVN), said the event is part of a Local Food Systems Solution Hub.
“The goal of the Solutions Hub is to engage various people involved in the local food system in ways that may not have happened before to identify and fund projects that could catalyze change in the food system as we know it,” she told Lakeland This Week.
According to Kumpula, the conversation at this gathering will be focused on all aspects of food production, including growing, supplying, access, use, as well as new methods, projects, and ideas to create a more just and equitable food system in the local region.
“This is the initial conversation to connect and hear from all community members that want to share about the barriers and opportunities to address the food needs of individuals and families in Lac La Biche,” she said. “This session will be followed by a second session in December for those that want to develop and implement solutions.
This project part of a larger network of projects funded in part by the Rockefeller Foundation.”
Kumpula stated that there are significant challenges in the community with regards to food cost and access, with many nutrient-rich foods being out of reach for community members.
“Even those that are able to access and pay for food are likely accessing food that has damaged ecological systems, broken cultural connections, and has lowered the producers’ or growers’ influences on the food supply chain,” she explained, adding that many of these impacts have had a greater proportionate negative affect on Indigenous communities.”
Kumpula cited a 2021 study conducted by the University of Toronto showing that Alberta has the highest prevalence of food insecurity out of the 10 Canadian provinces, at 20.3 per cent.
“This conversation is important to have now as food costs are at an all-time high,” she continued.
Kumpula said while there will be no official guest speakers at the event, as the community members who attend are experts in the local context, she said the session will be guided by professional facilitators, as members of the PFSVN will be in attendance.
“The PFSVN is a newly-established inter-provincial organization and has not yet held an event like this, however the board members are highly connected to their respective communities and have hosted other community gatherings,” she said. “We hope that this can be a catalyst for further discussion and actions taken by local community members to make changes — even if small — to move toward a more sustainable and equitable local food system.
The ‘Community Dialogue on Food Sovereignty’ event will take place in the Tea Room at McArthur Place on Oct. 23, starting with a noon lunch. The session will be from 1pm - 3pm.
Registration is being done online at www.stonesoupfood.ca/involved
