To: The Slow Food Community, here in the Okanagan, across Turtle Island and around the world:

As Terra Madre Day 2016 nears the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) would like to take the opportunity to thank Slow Food Thompson Okanagan, Slow Food Canada, Slow Food Turtle Island and Slow Food International’s continued support in sharing the story of the return our sc’win and advocating for indigenous food sovereignty in general.

At the core of our connection with Slow Food is a set of shared values around the deeper significance of food and food systems, not only for sustenance, but for the well-being and resilience of people, cultures and ecologies. The key tenants of Slow Food “good clean and fair” food resonates with our indigenous perspective and experience, particularly regarding social justice, conviviality and the sacred nature of food that connects all of us. On Terre Madre Day the Syilx Nation acknowledge the importance and significance of this day set aside for reflecting upon our actions. We stand with our sisters and brothers around the world in our hard work advancing food security efforts for our beautiful peoples, beautiful lands, resources, and sacred waters. We look forward to collectively furthering these practices in the year to come.

As we gear up to celebrate Terra Madre Day here in the Okanagan and abroad, we wish to briefly share with you a story that may contribute to the Slow Food theme of “Love the Earth, Defend the Future”. In 2016 around 342,391 Okanagan sockeye returned to the Columbia watershed, three times as many as were originally forecasted. This unexpected bounty was a cause for celebration, and was in deep contrast to the previous year’s fishery closure due to the effects of climate change. This return is deeply connected to our collective cultural ceremonies and prayers, and provides the opportunity to carry out a successful food fishery that put one of our key first foods, sockeye salmon, into thousands of our community member’s homes. Such an experience affirms the “Love (for) the Earth”, and that we must continue to “Defend the Future” for the generations that come ahead. For more information please visit our website or check out the video:

We recognize the importance that advocacy and communication plays in shifting perspectives and attitudes, and greatly appreciate all the opportunities that have been provided by Slow Food over the years. We look forward to continuing to collaborate in future.

Lim ‘limpt

OKANAGAN NATION ALLIANCE

For more information on Slow Food:

http://www.slowfood.com/

For more information on Terra Madre Day:

http://www.slowfood.com/what-we-do/international-events/terra-madre-day/

Official copy of this letter:

Terra-Madre-Day-Letter-of-Gratitude-Final-2016-Dec-1

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