Students use food as a tool for reconciliation at upcoming event

Campus March 21, 2018

Students from Camosun Hospitality Management class Integrated Events Management (HMGT 286) will be facilitating Food Sovereignty and Reconciliation with the Songhees Nation at the Songhees Wellness Centre on March 23. The event will feature traditional food and a presentation about food sovereignty and reconciliation.

“The event will start with the greetings and opening ceremony, and some explanations,” says HGMT 286 student Yuuri Daiku, who is helping to put on the event. “The guests will then be guided by our volunteer staff, who will take them to three different food stations.”

Students from Camosun’s Culinary Arts program will be assisted by the cooks at the Songhees Wellness Centre in preparing the meal. The main feature of this event is special guest Richard Francis, an indigenous chef who’s appeared on Top Chef Canada.

Camosun student Lois Macorol is involved in a fundraising dinner (photo by Adam Marsh/Nexus).

“He will be inspiring, supervising, and guiding the others in this process,” says Daiku. “This is the main body of the event. They will sample foods and pick up drinks at the coffee/tea bar that we have. Then everyone will gather at the stage, some dessert will be served, and Richard Francis will give us some explanation behind the concept of cooking for reconciliation.”

Camosun Culinary Arts chair Steve Walker-Duncan is designing the menu in communication with Francis. Daiku says that the menu will be based on traditional methods, and that there will definitely be fish and traditionally eaten plants as well as maybe some wild animal, such as deer.

“The whole idea of using food as a way of connecting people is common to all cultures of the world,” says Daiku.

This evenat is the first of its type that the program has been involved in; the students say that there have been many late nights and that the process has been one of trial and error, but they say that they are gaining a lot from it.

“I think it’s a pretty cool experience for us international students to be involved in an event like this,” says Lois Macorol, another HGMT 286 student working on the event. “Initially, I was wondering why they would entrust an event like this to students that don’t hail from here, who are most likely learning of the topic of reconciliation for the first time. The process has been really eye-opening and an amazing learning experience, and I think it’s a great opportunity that we were immersed in this.”

Macorol says that the biggest challenge has been having such a small network; she moved here only six months ago. She says the partnership with the Songhees Nation has been an exciting experience.

“It’s been a great opportunity for growth,” says Macorol. “We’ve all been learning about each other’s strengths, and we’ve definitely felt the support from the Hospitality [Management] department. We don’t feel like we’ve been thrown to the sharks, or the lions, or whatever the correct animal is. Even though this is a very challenging program, we’re able to do it because we have very supportive instructors from Camosun.”

The proceeds from this event will go toward establishing a scholarship for students from the Songhees First Nation. Macorol says that everyone should be involved in food sovereignty and reconciliation.

“I think what everyone’s responsibility is is to educate themselves, and understand how respect plays a big role in this,” says Macorol. “That’s what I’m learning.”

Food Sovereignty and Reconciliation
6 pm to 9:30 pm, Friday March 23
$80, Songhees Wellness Centre (1100 Admirals Road)
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