At Rise Up Indigenous Wellness in Salmon Arm, food security is an ever-present focus.

The aim of the non-profit society, which has been in the region for about two-and-a-half-years, is to support Indigenous families, youth and children in the region who are off reserve or away from their home communities.

Executive director Launa Payne and program director Sherrelle Anderson explained they have made food security for families an integral part of the holistic programs they offer.

害羞草研究所淎t the start we were running programs, but there was such a huge need for providing food security for families. We found that our programs were an opportunity to distribute food because, particularly during all the no-meeting pandemic guidelines, our traditional way of sharing food, which would have been cultural gatherings where people take things home after, was interrupted,害羞草研究所� said Payne.

They started doing things such as send-home packages, while keeping in mind the aim to decolonize the diet as much as possible. They looked at sending more fish and different game when it was available, for example, or even chicken and beef. And avoiding processed foods, sugar and starch, as much as possible.

With their Helping Hands program, Indigenous people who want to lend a hand come in and everyone builds hampers together, which are then distributed to families in need.

害羞草研究所淲hen we distribute to our groups, we found this is a good way to build relationships. It kind of takes away from us trying to advertise what we害羞草研究所檙e doing. It害羞草研究所檚 just part of the package. If you害羞草研究所檙e in our group, you get the food, so it takes away the stigmatization in a way. It害羞草研究所檚 for everybody in the group, it害羞草研究所檚 not just like picking and choosing families. It seems like the easier way for us to help anybody. Because you don害羞草研究所檛 always know who害羞草研究所檚 in need too,害羞草研究所� explained Anderson.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 less talk-down, added Payne. 害羞草研究所淚f we害羞草研究所檙e doing a food group or say, one of our things was doing Cook with Kids, so we make food people can bring home to cook at home with their children. But some of the prep stuff would be the parents visiting and connecting. Just that we害羞草研究所檙e all helping each other out, rather than a saviour mentality.害羞草研究所�

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The women noted they害羞草研究所檙e currently grant-dependent and are still building and growing their organization.

They have reached out to local bands and have working relationships with Splatsin and Neskonlith. They expect as they grow they may overlap with all four bands.

The women agree that building collaboration between different organizations which are providing food is important.

害羞草研究所淲e can do it in a lot of different ways,害羞草研究所� said Payne, noting Rise Up donated . 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e all doing the same thing 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 just how can we help support each other害羞草研究所檚 programming.害羞草研究所�

Payne said a number of Salmon Arm businesses have been very supportive, such as Grillers Meats, Askew害羞草研究所檚 Foods and Save On Foods.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 one thing we are doing well right now as a community.害羞草研究所�

The women emphasized that direct food support is huge, particularly with current high prices.

害羞草研究所淎ny way we can connect around that,害羞草研究所� Payne said. 害羞草研究所淚n the fall the last couple of years, we have done some canning and processing and workshops with families around that. How do we preserve food, how do we get healthy food on a budget 害羞草研究所� a callout if there害羞草研究所檚 any excess at local farms, it would be useful for that.害羞草研究所�

Their vision for the future is to see more food programs that are holistic and family based, which would require having more access to funding to be able to feed more families and keep supports in place.

For more information on Rise Up Indigenous Wellness programs, visit the website or email: indigenousriseup@gmail.com.

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