About Braiding Food Systems

This three year project collaborates with First Nations communities in Northern Ontario to build and re-localize seed systems in Northern Ontario, for food security and food sovereignty. Working with seed producers, seed keepers, community growers, and University researchers, Indigenous produced heritage and landrace varieties will be selected, grown, saved, owned by communities, enhancing local capacity for food growing and processing (cooking and preserving). 

Collaboration

Communities work together involving Elders, community members, women, children, and youth network throughout the North sharing their food growing practices and seed keeping. By owning, controlling, accessing, and possessing seeds, community members can maintain their independence and autonomy. Of course, not all seeds are suitable for every location. This project collaborates with community members in selecting, adapting, and preserving the varieties that best fit their specific environments and food practices. Community champions bring together community and University of Guelph team to strengthen the daily garden operations, gather notes and observations throughout the growing season, and harvest food.

Data and Seed Ownership

This project follows OCAP Principles (Ownership, Control, Access, Possession) , and the Tri-Council Policy Statement  TCPS 2 (2022) – Chapter 9. Project data is collected following the Research Ethics Board’s protocols approved by the University of Guelph and, the Manitoulin Anishinaabek Research Review Committee (MARRC). Data analysis and reporting is done in collaboration with, and owned by communities. Ethical considerations are followed when working with seeds. Seeds are culturally, genetically, and spiritually important, protecting and securing the ownership and stewardship of these resources, which is a critical ethical principle. Seeds are maintained and conserved within communities, by and for communities.

Partnership and Governance

This project collaborates and integrates diverse expertise and experiences from Indigenous seed producers and food growers, with agronomists and food specialists from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). University of Guelph’s natural and social scientists and students, the Thunder Bay Health Unit, Indigenous Education of the Superior Greenstone District School Board. In the communities, the support and contributions of the different council units, foster active community engagement and ownership.  

Our Shared Goals

  1. Building collaborative partnership and establishing mutual trust – understanding that this is an ongoing, long-term and constantly evolving process
  2. Understanding the social-cultural, and ecological context of each community, identifying the elements that most impact food security and food sovereignty – which need to be addressed
  3. Enabling the creation of community gardens as spaces to trial and plant Indigenous crop varieties, build capacity for food growing, share knowledge between partners, and save and conserve seeds
  4. Providing policy and practical recommendations which respond to the multiple, complex and contextual needs of each of our community partners.