(Ottawa, ON) December 3, 2021 – The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) would like to acknowledge and honour everyone who contributed to the Local Food by Local Youth (LFLY) project over the past year. The purpose of the LFLY project was to work together to learn how to create a youth-led local food system using Indigenous and non-Indigenous Knowledge and methods that promote food sovereignty. This project grew out LHF’s mandate to promote healing and rejuvenation of Indigenous communities harmed by the impacts of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, and other colonial policies.

Originally conceived pre-COVID-19, the project faced many changes brought on by the pandemic. Despite revolving restrictions and lockdowns, this project was able to continue thanks to the efforts and perseverance of many individuals. During the first stage of the LFLY project, Traditional Knowledge Keepers and growing experts related to a group of youth volunteers from the Chippewas of the Thames First Nations (COTTFN). These gatherings took place online and included introductory lessons and tips on various planting techniques, use and care for heirloom and Indigenous seeds, soil health and regeneration, producing compost and natural fertilizers, harvesting wild edibles, as well as information on hydroponics as an alternative method to support long-term sustainable food production.

The second stage of the project focused on what knowledge and practices were most relevant to the community and how to start applying it. This took place at COTTFN’s Antler River Elementary School and resulted in setting up hydroponics inside and outside of the school, planting Indigenous and heirloom seeds, utilizing raised garden beds built by Indigenous youth, and assembling a geodesic growing dome to support the continued growth of food year-round.

“Regardless of being unable to meet in-person, a vast amount of knowledge was generously shared with the youth throughout the project. The culmination of everything learned has led to the release of a final project piece, a newly available free resource called: Food Sovereignty: A Guide for Indigenous Youth. This guide contains many of the tips, teachings, and takeaways from the experts who generously shared their knowledge and methods with us throughout the project sessions. This guide is now available to download or order for free on the LHF website. The work of this project wouldn’t have been possible without the time and dedication shared by the volunteers, leaders, teachers, and experts who took part in the LFLY project, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them here,” said the Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel, Teresa Edwards.

LHF is especially grateful to the amazing group of individuals at COTTFN who saw the promise in this new project and volunteered their time to bring it to life. Thank you to Kingson Huff, Meaghan MacLeod, and Alanis Deleary, whose tenacity and leadership brought everyone together, and kept everyone together, despite the difficulties and setbacks brought on by the pandemic. LHF also thanks all the youth, whose participation in this project inspired the development of a new local food system that students can continue to use and learn from in your community. LHF is extremely grateful to Vick Slay (Principal at Antler River Elementary School), whose partnership on this project created the space where youth can continue to learn, grow, and apply their visions for Indigenous food sovereignty.

LHF acknowledges and thanks the speakers and partnerships with Sovereign Seeds, Canadian Bushcraft and ZipGrow, whose knowledge and presence on this project made all the difference. LHF thanks you for your heartfelt contributions, your dedication has not gone unnoticed. They worked with the LHF team to find ways to morph the delivery of the LFLY project to meet deadlines and demands with perseverance.

The LHF is grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation who saw purpose in this project; their funding helped us to make this vision a reality.

Finally, the LHF would like to thank and pay tribute to Darlene Whitecalf from Chippewas of the Thames. Although Darlene is longer with us, we will always remember her for her love and determination for her community. The Local Food by Local Youth project has led to the development of a student-led local food system in her community, a food sovereignty guide for more youth to learn from and inspired the expansion of more work around land education at the LHF. It was because of Darlene this project took flight. Chi-Miigwetch.

Click on this link to access and download the Food Sovereignty: A Guide for Indigenous Youth directly: https://legacyofhope.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Food-Sovereignty-A-Guide-for-Indigenous-Youth-2021.pdf  OR contact the LHF for more information on how to obtain printed copies.

The LHF is a national, indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada for over 21 years. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential and Day School Systems and subsequent Sixties Scoop on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) Survivors, their descendants, and their communities to promote hope and healing in Canada. The LHF works to encourage people to address discrimination and injustice to contribute to the equity, dignity, and respectful treatment of Indigenous Peoples and to foster Reconciliation.

The LHF has more than 25 educational exhibitions that promote awareness of Indigenous history that are free to borrow and is working on making exhibitions available online. LHF also has curriculum for K-12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops and Training, podcasts, all aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Sixties Scoop, etc. The LHF works to develop empathy and understanding to eliminate racism against Indigenous Peoples.

To learn more about Sovereign Seeds and the work they are doing you can visit their websites at: https://www.sovereignseeds.org/

To learn more about Canadian Bushcraft and the work they are doing you can visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/canadianbushcraft/, or check out their podcast: The Canadian Bushcraft Podcast.

To learn more about ZipGrow, and the services, trainings and products offered, you can visit their website at: https://zipgrow.com/