UPDATE: Wild Salmon Caravan – Request for donations of food
The Wild Salmon Caravan (WSC) is fast approaching and we are looking for donations of food to be shared with all 10 communities who are hosting dinners, lunches or breakfasts for the caravan, as it travels from Mount Robson to Victoria during the week of June 6 – 12, 2016. The WSC will provide opportunities to celebrate the spirit of wild salmon, and raise awareness of the ecological and social importance of wild salmon within mutual aid networks, and various forms of media and arts based engagement strategies.
We are asking for contributions of healthy and culturally appropriate foods including: vegetables, fruits, whole grain breads, rice, flours, and cereals, dried beans, coffee, tea, sugar, butter, wild salmon, free range eggs, meats (breakfast and sandwich), sugar, etc…
Each of the 10 communities have agreed to host feasts and ceremonies at the shores of the the Fraser River and the Salish Sea, and the WSC planning teams will host 3 parades in Kamloops, Vancouver and Victoria. Stay tuned for a more detailed program coming soon to our facebook page.
We have already received funding to cover most of the logistics, but need more help to make this event a huge success. We are working with several organizations including; the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, Still Moon Arts Society, Grandview Woodlands Food Connection, Vancouver Storytelling Society, several Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, and more. If you are able to contribute food to this project, we will publicly acknowledge your contributions and place your business logo on our website, promotional materials, and social media.
Please feel free to contact our Food Donations Coordinator, Shannon Hecker with any further questions and/or details of contributions at shannon61184@gmail.com, or (604) 396-9893. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Wild Salmon will love you for it!
Sincerely,
Dawn Morrison, Co-Lead, Wild Salmon Caravan
Director, BC Food Systems Network, Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty
About the Wild Salmon Caravan
We are very excited to announce the upcoming 2nd annual Wild Salmon Caravan (WSC). The intention of the WSC is to celebrate the spirit of wild salmon through the arts and culture in a way that will nurture the creative energy that wild salmon have inspired through the ages, and affirm inter-tribal relationships that were the foundation of traditional fisheries knowledge systems. The collaboration and creative energy will serve to educate, inform, and transform the darkness surrounding the industrial storm that is endangering wild salmon. Ancient ceremonies and songs of Indigenous peoples, as well as creative expressions of visual and performing arts, music, storytelling, guest speakers, and art exhibits, will call the wild salmon home to the rivers and streams where they play out their lives in birth and death.
Ultimately the caravan will build capacity of coalitions and campaigns that link Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, artists, food systems networks, individuals, organizations, and communities who are working to protect, conserve and restore wild salmon and it’s habitat in the Fraser Basin and Salish Seas corridor.
Crowd-funding
Crowd-funding (or crowd-financing) is still a very new concept, however it is quickly becoming one the leading ways community initiatives can be coordinated and implemented by grassroots people working to effect positive change. We have launched a campaign where you can donate different amounts. Essentially, we are not asking for charity because you are actually considered a contributor to the Wild Salmon Caravan Mutual Aid Network. We will keep you updated every step of the way.
Why support us? Why this project
Because we strongly believe in art and culture as a medium for social/political/environmental change. We know what we are doing has a direct impact on our communities and our project intends to address the crisis we are currently facing.
Practical Stuff
Check out our campaign here: https://www.generosity.com/celebration-fundraising/wild-salmon-caravan/x/6016876
You will see the video we put together “The Salmon Will Hear Our Songs” that will give more details about the the Wild Salmon Caravan, and learn about how much money we need ($10,000) and what it will be used for, as well as all the benefits you get by donating.
If you don’t feel capable of donating money now there are many other ways to help:
- Spread the word to those who you think might be able to donate, even forward this email to them right now.
- Social Media is key! Share our funding page on facebook/twitter! Please “Like” our Wild Salmon Caravan page on facebook & invite your friends, family & colleagues to like the page as well: https://www.facebook.com/Wild-Salmon-Caravan-1127741203923144
- Join the Wild Salmon Caravan – plan your own part of the journey.
- Talk about the Wild Salmon Caravan (word of mouth is one of the best ways we can get support).
- Write to us and give us feedback
We are working with planning teams in various communities and regions around the province of BC. Please contact me, if you or someone you know is interested in planning and hosting a stop along the caravan. Please let us know!
We hope that what you’ve just read will inspire you enough to help us make this journey a success.
My contact details are below and I look forward to your suggestions, comments, and ideas. Anything and everything is welcome. Thank you for your time. Your interest and contributions are deeply appreciated.
Wild Salmon will love you for it!
Dawn Morrison,
BC Food Systems Network
Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty
C/O 555 East 55th AvenueVancouver, B.C, V5X 1N6
Email: dmo6842@gmail.com
Website: www.indigenousfoodsystems.org