Kenhte:ke Kanyen'keha:ka Food Sovereignty Project
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CME Indigenous Media
Colonization has been key in creating food deserts while simultaneously destroying the land and water due to the elimination of Indigenous knowledge in the world of Western reductionist science. The Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kéha:ka Food Sovereignty Project will provide Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory with fresh produce all year round while revitalizing the soil.
While the language and concept of food sovereignty have only recently been introduced in Indigenous communities, the living reality is not a new one. Indigenous food-related knowledge, values, and wisdom built up over thousands of years provide a basis for identifying the following key principles that guide the present-day food sovereignty movement in Indigenous communities. Indigenous Food Sovereignty includes the principles of Sacred or divine sovereignty, Participatory action, and self-determination. The policy of Indigenous Food Sovereignty attempts to reconcile Indigenous food and cultural values with colonial laws and policies and mainstream economic activities. Indigenous Food Sovereignty thereby provides a restorative framework for policy reform in forestry, fisheries, rangeland, environmental conservation, health, agriculture, and rural and community development.
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory is located beside the Bay of Quinte, the largest watershed in Southern Ontario, with over 18,000 square kilometers, and includes lands drained by the Trent, Moira, and Napanee rivers and a host of smaller tributaries. The Bay of Quinte was identified as one of 43 Great Lakes Basin “Areas of Concern” in 1985. The International Joint Commission recognized that several of the Bay’s beneficial uses were impaired due to industrial, agricultural, municipal, and household practices that had contaminated the water. In addition to posing risks to human health, some of the diversity of plant and animal life had been lost. Studies show that stream bank naturalization presents the greatest opportunity to restore fish and wildlife habitats in the Salmon River watershed, especially in the southern portion. There are also areas surrounding wetlands in need of naturally vegetated buffers. Therefore, the Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kéha:ka Food Sovereignty Project will remediate the soil with fungal cultures that help greatly in creating clean runoff into the Bay of Quinte and surrounding watersheds.
As of 2016, the population of Tyendinaga is 2500+, and the Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kéha:ka Food Sovereignty Project has been able to donate up to 100lbs of food to the Community Food Resource Center. With four garden beds successfully up and running, it was an easy decision for the elective council to grant permission to 2-3 acres of space for commercial greenhouses with circle gardens.
We’re focusing on neighborhoods in and surrounding
the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (in white) and across Turtle Island.
Made Possible By
NEIGHBORHOODS:
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and Township, Napanee, Prince Edward County, Belleville, and the Bay of Quinte and connected watersheds.
While the language and concept of food sovereignty has only recently been introduced in Indigenous communities, the living reality is not a new one. Indigenous food related knowledge, values and wisdom built up over thousands of years provides a basis for identifying four key principles that guide the present day food sovereignty movement in Indigenous communities.
Indigenous Food Sovereignty includes many components such as Sacred or divine sovereignty, Participatory action, and self-determination. The policy of Indigenous Food Sovereignty attempts to reconcile Indigenous food and cultural values with colonial laws and policies and mainstream economic activities.
Indigenous Food Sovereignty thereby provides a restorative framework for policy reform in forestry, fisheries, rangeland, environmental conservation, health, agriculture, and rural and community development. Sovereignty v. Security: Food Sovereignty highlights the need for a food system which involves input from the community as well as producers.
Food security is concerned with the protection and distribution of existing food systems
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On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, we met with the Tyendinaga Mohawk Elected Council regarding the Kenhtè:ke food sovereignty project. One of the first points discussed was that the project will operate under the Kayanere’kowa and Kahswentha (Two Row Wampum) without outside influence; this means no outside government will influence how we think or make decisions during this project. It was also emphasized that we will not influence the way they make their decisions either. We are only looking to work together for the progress of the community.
We explained that the trade routes would be established again between the Mi'kma'ki and Anishinaabe for seafood and wild rice, and food would be provided to the people; as well as some details about how the farming process will work. It was an excellent discussion, and everyone present was excited about the future of the project. We will be meeting with a representative from the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte soon to discuss next steps.
This not only means the implementation of the community gardens and greenhouses, but other food sovereignty work among the community as well. The only thing we asked of the Council was a place to grow and work together for the community under the treaties. Nothing financial. We still need your support through donations, or by purchasing merchandise or coffee and baked goods from Two Row Coffee & Tea Company.
The garden boxes will be able to meet the needs of elders and some others while we continue to build the project. The cost of everything is going up, the cost of eating shouldn't; especially our traditional and Indigenous foods.
When phases one and two are complete we will be prepared to replicate this in other communities, and we have already been speaking with someone from a more remote area who is interested.
Not only will we be reasserting sovereignty through education and knowledge of food, and the ability to produce it ourselves, trade routes will also be re-established between the Anishinaabe and Mi'kma'ki. That means fresh produce, seafood, wild rice all available for Indigenous people and for sale for settlers
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We’re creating a virtual community marketplace which not only enables us to provide for the community, but you can join as well and your home-based business will thrive and empowers your community. We will be activating an online app with a 24-7 virtual marketplace designed to value communities using Haudenosaunee Governance structures. This program is grassroots, DIY, hyper-local, self-funding, self-governing, and strengthens local economies. And we’d like you to join our pilot project flagship team by selling your own side-hustle products or services in the community marketplace.
This marketplace will be user friendly, allowing for easier access to all produce and marketplace products by Elders and others who are unable to make it to the physical location
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Help launching & growing flexible, home-based
small businesses -
Low overhead & cost
of doing business -
Target marketing in
a hyper-local marketplace -
Preserve and grow community
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Build a community development fund for members’ use
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Expand community prosperity by creating economic opportunities for all
Best of all, the transaction fee revenues could fund these community projects:
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Landback Warrior Camp: teach our language
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Landback Warrior Camp: data sovereignty
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Childcare services
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Classes that help
people launch a
home-based business -
Community gardens
