Saanich Nutrition Fair and Feast

On Oct 28th over 200 people came to the Tsawout community gym to share, learn and network around food, land and health.

The event was sponsored by the Saanich Adult Care Society, Feasting for Change, Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities Network and hosted in Tsawout community gym.

Over 27 exhibitors were invited and attended:  The day was full of food tastings, nutrition booths, food demos and more.

Healthy Food, Healthy Families

FOOD IS MEDICINE

Traditional Food Demos
• Smoked Clams
• Native plant table and walk
• Medicine Plants with Anna Spahan

Health Care Info
• Dental Care and Screening
• Kidney and Heart Diseases
• Celiac, Diabetes, Diverticulosis information

Kids and Family Health
• Breast Feeding tips and how to feed your baby
• Fresh food sampling with recipes
• Exercise Expert

Community Wellness
• Naturopath information
• Gardening and composting Information
• How to cook your favourite foods

We ate a delicious meal created by Rose Jimmy and then watched a powerful movie shared to us all by Thomas Sampson - MOVIE - Teachings of the Tree People – Bruce Miller

Scianew Cedar Weaving

At the Scianew Feast in June Lydia offered some cedar to the group to help support them in learning more about weaving and the uses for cedar.

Lydia taught us how to weave cedar into headdresses, rope, bracelets, cedar roses. Her enthusiasm for the sacred cedar came through as she shared not only her skills but her teachings about how to treat cedar, and what cedar has to teach us. Many hands were busy around the table learning how cedar works and how to work with it to form many beautiful things. The items will be sold and proceeds with be used to fund Isabelle Charles's youth programs as they did not receive funding this year. Cedar weaving will happen again next week to continue making items for sale.

This community is hosting a First Nations Xmas Bazzar on Dec 4th and 5th.  The community will be selling some of the weaving.

GorgeWater Way Feast Aug 24rd, 2010

On August 24th 2010 the Gorge water Way Discover Centre, Feasting for Change and members of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nation came together to learn more about the territory, the land, food and culture of the KEMOTEN (the shortcut). The day focused on a Community Picnic and a variety of other activities:

 

• A demonstration pit cook by Cheryl Bryce;
• Delicious and beautifully presented pit cooked food
• Baked Scow bread on sticks over the fire
• Games of Lahal shared by August Thomas
• Native plant planting by Township of Esquimalt arbourists and by attendees
• Native vegetation walks led by Lewis Williams
• Community mapping of special and meaningful places by UVIC Community Mapping Group
• Information booths including a traditional medicinal tea table with Anna Spahan and Earl Claxton Jr

  

 

Busy at work, preparing the pit and meeting all the great people.

 

 

 

Anna and Isabelle our Elders who support us so much. Anna and Medicine Table.

 

 

Jen, Lewis and Ken our great champions

 

 

 

Sue and Fiona - a great team.

 

 

 

August Thomas sharing his knowledge and skills at Lahal. Putting the pit together!

 

  

 

The veggies for the pit.

 

 

 

The Greenery...

 

 

 

Baking the bread on the fire!

 

 

 

Invasive removal time and reintroduce native plants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lewis is sharing his knowledge!

 

 

 

Opening the pit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandy and Carla...great work everyone! Thanks to Natalia and Carla for all your hard work!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pacheedaht Feast September 2nd 2010

On a warm and sunny September day, the community invited Feasting For Change back out to their gorgeous beach front to celebrate the teachings of their ancestors especially the Pit cooking method that Ida Jones shared with Nancy Turner. Nancy has helped and support all of us in bringing this method back to the community.

Stacy, Carlson and Sandy have a rest before the work of putting the pit together.

The busy action of creating a pit. Many hands help get the greenery, food, and fish into the ground.

Closing up the pit and sealing the steam inside.

The Smelting demonstration begins.

Great Shot Sandy!

Baking Scow bread on the fire and also experimenting with baking bread in the sand

Stacy Jones closing the day after the nature walk and pit opening and reminding all of us of the importance of learing and respecting each of these opportunitites.

Many thanks Pacheedaht!