Photo credit Billie Jean Gabriel
The Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty in Secwepemc territory (Chase, BC), is seeking a Cwelcwelt Kuc “We are Well” Garden Manager!
Discipline: Indigenous Permaculture, Eco-cultural Restoration, Indigenous
Food Sovereignty
Duration: 8 months with possibility of extension, pending future funding
Location: Neskonlith IR #1, Secwepemc territory (Chase, BC)
Start Date: When position is filled
Remuneration: Based on experience
Background
The Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty (WGIFS) was founded in 2006 out of a recognized need to carry Indigenous voice and vision in food systems research, action, and policy. The WGIFS has since become an internationally recognized grassroots organization consisting of Indigenous knowledge holders, scholars, researchers, practitioners, representatives of community, regional, tribal and inter-tribal networks and non-profit organizations. Our work has been foundational to the building of an Indigenous Food Systems Network consisting of social actors who see the critical need to reconceptualize frameworks for food security indicators and integrate decolonizing regenerative food systems with Indigenous foodland conservation. We work within a holistic health, regenerative life-giving Indigenous paradigm to apply Indigenous land and water ethics to the protection, maintenance and conservation of Indigenous biodiversity in the extended hunting, fishing and gathering corridors in the territory.
1. Purpose of Garden Manager position
Work with the project team and manage the day-to-day operations of the Cwelcwelt Kuc – “ We are Well” Garden and related infrastructure on Neskonlith IR #1, to increase the capacity of the community and cohorts to live the reality of food sovereignty.
2. Objectives
2.1 The project team engages Neskonlith/Adams Lake community members, as well as members
of the Indigenous Food and Freedom School (IFFS) cohorts, and communities of practice in growing, harvesting, sharing, and caring of food from a basis of Indigenous permaculture and land based healing principles and practices.
2.2 The project will increase the capacity of the IFFS cohorts and community members to respond to their own needs for adequate amounts of healthy, culturally relevant foods, and will increase the ability of cohorts/community participants to “live the reality” of food sovereignty.
3. The contractor will work with the leadership and project team on the following activities.
Work closely with the project team and volunteers to coordinate, implement,and evaluate all aspects of garden design, planting, harvesting
Assist with planning and preparation for community food sharing, caring and trading programs which may include assisting with market planning and selling of surplus fruits and vegetables when appropriate;
Establish and outline wise practices for coordinating food sharing and caring, coordinating community engagement, harvesting and processing food, COVID safety compliance, and other necessary information;
Ongoing – management of the day-to-day operations of the garden including planting, weed management, soil preparation, disease monitoring/control, compost, and irrigation, and coordination of work parties with team members.
Supervision and evaluation of casual on call labour/workers and volunteers.
In consultation with the project Curator, order all necessary garden-related materials and supplies according to WGIFS procedures (acquiring approvals as needed).
Work in collaboration with Land Based Healing Coordinator and Community Engagement Liaison to promote and maintain community connections that create experiential, land-based healing and learning opportunities for youth and community members, and;
Scope of Services/Deliverables
Garden design and maintenance plan that includes input from the project team, traditional knowledge holders and advisors/consultants to map and identify seed selection and saving of heritage varieties, and strategies for increasing capacity to capture and store water and mitigate climate change.
Record keeping of growing and harvesting program, daily log of activities, inventory, climate change, watering, cataloguing of seeds.
Maintain a list of things to do for project team and volunteers including wedding, watering, planting, etc.;
Provide regular communications, updates and reports to team and community members and participate in team meetings as requested and assist with grant proposals, and provide meeting notes and reports.
4.0 Terms of the Contract
4.1 Duration: Start June – October 2022, Jan, Feb and March 2023
4.2 Vehicle required
5.0 Applications
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Applications should be submitted as a single pdf attachment by email to dawn.morrison@wgifs.org
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1-page cover letter stating your interest and key qualifications, address the letter to: Dawn Morrison, Founder/Curator, Research and Relationships, Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty.
Application Deadline: Deadline has been extended- apply as soon as you can
Garden management experience preferred. Non-Indigenous applicants will be considered only with a deep comprehensive understanding and demonstrated ability to work in a liberating, trauma informed and decolonizing relationship based approach. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will continue until suitable candidates are identified. We regret that we will not be able to personally respond to all applications.
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Learn More About the Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty
Website: https://indigenousfoodsystems.org/
