Results and Lessons: Year One - The Braiding Food Systems Project with First Nations Communities in Northern Ontario

The Braiding Food Systems (BFS) project, led by Professor Sivia Sarapura-Escobar and seven graduate students in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development  (SEDRD), was implemented in May 2023 with the support of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) and the UofG Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.  The team have been working with three First Nations communities in Northern Ontario to re-introduce seed systems for enhancing the diversity of the food systems in the communities for food security and food sovereignty. The activities and results of year one have demonstrated that building trusting relationships between researchers and First Nations communities and strong relational opportunities for learning about food and seed systems in Northern Ontario are enabled and fostered. Our first year of engagement and collaboration has demonstrated that when braiding knowledge systems while contributing to their dynamism and action to position food access and control are central to our relations and engagement. At the same time, sustainable food systems become stronger and resilient to honour traditional practices while embracing modern practices.

More information can be found on the University of Guelph Seeds Research website.