Jeff Shantz, Toronto

“The foundation of our movements, often unacknowledged, is our ability to take care of each other.” With these words from Sue Collis, a resident of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario, and a longtime member of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), commenced the July 17 groundbreaking ceremony for the Midwinter Harvest and Meeting House.

The facility will serve as a processing and food distribution centre, as well as a community meeting house, at Tyendinaga. The Midwinter Harvest Food Program was initiated to provide, in the words of its organisers, “healthy, culturally appropriate foods to First Nations, poor and homeless people, and defend our territories against environmental destruction.”

The Midwinter Harvest will grow and process food locally at Tyendinaga, while making food available to territory residents and homeless people in cities such as Toronto and Ottawa. This continues and develops the tremendous solidarity given by the Mohawk community at Tyendinaga, who have long provided food for homeless people in Toronto, as well as preparing meals in support of anti-poverty demonstrations.

Because the Mohawk community's particular cultural requirements, food processing cannot be met by off-reserve businesses, especially given the centrality of fish and game as major staples in local households.

As Sue Collis noted at the ceremony, the centre will serve as a place to educate new generations in traditional practices.

Members of OCAP, the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, the Syme-Woolner Community Centre and the Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre), and the Canadian Auto Workers travelled to Tyendinaga by bus to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony. More than 60 people took part and all were treated with wonderful hospitality.

From Green Left Weekly, September 1, 2004.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

Tools

• Bookmark This Page
• Print This Page