Still Time to Support: ICAN's Indigenous Feast Boxes Fundraising Campaign through the Holiday Season
GoFundMe Canada campaign providing meal kits to Indigenous families in need continuing until January 10, 2021 in order to reach $60,000 fundraising goal
Treaty One Territory. Traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of the Metis Nation (Winnipeg, MB)-December 18, 2020-Indigenous Culinary of Associated Nations(ICAN) announced today it will be extending itsIndigenous Feast Boxescampaign throughout the holiday season. Due to overwhelming interest and the support of many generous donations across the country, ICAN is closer to reaching its goal to feed up to 1,700 families (approximately 8,500 people) and is confident it can reach its target of $60,000. People now haveuntil January 10, 2021, to donate to the campaign aimed at supporting Indigenous chefs and their teams across Canada and providing meal kits to Indigenous families and community members in need.
Spearheaded byExecutive Chef Christa Bruneau-Guenther, owner ofFeast CafeBistrofrom Peguis First Nation and ICAN Board member, the idea to help support Indigenous-owned restaurants and catering services and to give back to the Indigenous community came to life after a successful distribution of summer meal kits out of her restaurant in Winnipeg. Once ICAN's Taste of the Nations events were cancelled due to COVID-19, the organization redirected those efforts by funding $25,000 towards Indigenous Feast Boxes. To share the diverse tastes and recipes of Indigenous cuisine across Canada, ICAN enlisted the help of top Indigenous chefs in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Iqaluit.
"As the effects of COVID-19 continue to devastate the Indigenous culinary industry, this campaign is aimed not only to help Indigenous families in need but also help secure jobs and get those employees in participating restaurants and establishments back to work,"said Executive Chef Christa Bruneau-Guenther."Many businesses have had to close their doors and this is now a lifeline for operations like ours that employ 12 staff, all of whom are Indigenous and rely on their jobs for their livelihood. The reaction to the campaign has been overwhelming and we are so grateful for the support of those who have already contributed. Just recently, we received a sizeable donation from the Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU) in the amount of $10,000 when their First Nations / Inuit / Metis representatives to the National Human Rights andRace Relations (HRRR) committee decided to direct their charitable funds this year to our campaign. Were so grateful for their donation and thrilled the word is getting out and people see this as the holiday gift that gives back."
Each participating region has a local chef assembling the boxes with their own creative flair and hints of their heritage behind the recipes. The chefs also handpicked local Indigenous community groups to partner with to distribute the Feast Boxes to those most in need. Promoted throughGoFundMe, a $50.00 donation can feed families of up to six people with one Feast Box. Families will receive these boxes partially or fully prepared with recipes and cooking instructions detailing the significance of the ingredients chosen that reflect the unique culture and personality of each local chef.In Winnipeg,the Feast Cafe Bistro boxes contain local turkey, wild rice, corn, beans, all of the seasonings, vegetables, bison, fruit and Arctic char from Nunavut, which was sourced from a non-profit in Winnipeg as well as bannock in a bag that the family can make at home;in Toronto,Chef Joseph Shawana of ddcx Indigenous Kitchen and Catering, with the support of Centennial College, prepared meals based on where he comes from including Mushroom, Sweet Potato and Bean Soup as well as Roasted Acorn Squash, and Wild Rice and Berry Salad; andin Saskatoonthe Wanuskewin Heritage Park culinary team led by Chef Jenni Lessard created a fully cooked, heat from frozen, Roast Turkey Dinner including bannock and wild rice stuffing, sage pan gravy, classic mashed potatoes, low bush cranberry and Saskatoon berry sauce, roast carrots glazed with honey and thyme, and spice cookies with squash raised from chef's garden last summer.
"It was a lot of work but I liked how it kept us busy and I was glad to be part of it all,"said Wanuskewin Culinary team member Julie Bear, member of Shoal Lake Cree Nation, Sask.
"Supporting our local food producers in the creation of this meal was very important to us as a team,"said Chef Jenni Lessard."It's so special that the low bush cranberries purchased from Indigenous people in Northern Saskatchewan will end up on the holiday table of students and their families in Saskatoon."
"Spreading the Spirit of the Holidays!!! Migwetch to Wawatay Catering and her team for the delicious breakfast brunch donations, which included local awazibi. The families truly appreciate your generosity,"posted the Maniwake Native Friendship Centre in west Quebec in thanks for the donations from Chef Marie-Cecile Nottaway.
"The food insecurity of our Indigenous communities across the country is rising and we wanted to do our part to help those affected, not only by the pandemic but a season that is often a struggle for many families,"said Chef Joseph Shawana, ICAN Board Chair."In addition to feeding community members, it was our goal to use this opportunity to help further ICANs mission of educating Canadians about Indigenous culinary and how widespread and diverse our food is. The awareness of the campaign has put a spotlight not only on food insecurity but also on the need to incorporate more Indigenous meals in restaurants. With growing interest in the campaign, we've heard from numerous Indigenous chefs and institutions such as hospitals and other organizations seeking to learn about ways to include Indigenous foods and recipes into their menus in order to deliver healthy local dishes to their communities."
"Indigenous culinary is one of the key elements that drives Indigenous tourism and what visitors look for when experiencing a place. As the country's national Indigenous tourism organization, it was imperative that ITAC help grow the community and lay the foundation for a collective like ICAN, which is committed to sharing genuine Indigenous food experiences with the country,"said Keith Henry, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) President and CEO."It is with pride that we as its parent organization can provide the necessary funding to support ICAN's initiatives and enable it to realize its mission and mandate with campaigns such as the Indigenous Feast Boxes."
In addition to ICAN's original $25,000 contribution to fund the program, as of December 16, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $40,000. Chefs across the country have delivered - or are in the process of creating and delivering - 1,300 Indigenous Feast Boxes, which feed approximately 6,500 people in 9 regions across Canada. The goal is to reach or surpass $60,000 in donations to increase donations to even more families across the country.
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Participating chefs and community organizations:
WINNIPEG
Partner Restaurant/Chef:
Feast Cafe Bistro team led by owner/chef Christa Bruneau-Guenther
Distributed by:
North Point Douglas Womens Centre
TORONTO
Partner Restaurant/Chef:
Distributed by:
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
QUEBEC
Partner Restaurant/Chef:
Wawatay Catering led by chef Marie-Cecile (Cezin) Nottaway
Distributed by:
Maniwake Native Friendship Centre
Kitigan Zibi Algonquin First Nation in Rapid Lake
Partner Restaurant/Chef:
Wigwam Catering led by chef Maxime Lizotte
Distributed by:
EDMONTON
Partner Restaurant/Chef:
Pei Pei Chei Ow Catering led by chef Scott Iserhoff
Distributed by:
Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre
VANCOUVER
Partner Restaurant/Chef:
Mr. Bannock Catering led by chef Paul Natrall
Distributed by:
Partner Restaurant/Chef:
Salmon n Bannock Restaurant team led by owner Inez Cook
Distributed by:
SASKATOON
Partner Restaurant/Chef:
Wanuskewin Heritage Park culinary team under the direction of chef Jenni Lessard
Distributed by:
Saskatoon Public School Foundation Cheer Crates Program
IQALUIT
Partner Restaurant/Chef:
sijjakkut inc. led by chef Sheila Flaherty and will distribute early in the new year to her Iqaluit community
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Accountability and Transparency
- GoFundMe charges 2.9% per transaction plus $0.30 per donation.
- Funds will be disbursed from a central pool on a proportional basis across the country, after evaluation by an adjudication team.
- Administration fees will be covered separately by ICAN so that all funds raised go directly to food, labour and distribution costs to feed as many families as possible.
- A full report will be released once the campaign is finished
For images, please visit
- Inez Cook - Salmon N Bannock:https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-KpHVYRCn2VNsDEJi
- Jenni Lessard and the Wanuskewin Culinary Team:https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-Bv7VcgULyK2XgvP7
- Joseph Shawana -https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-geOcmqF2rPwyd4xd
- Maxime Lizotte - Wigwam Chef:https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-5PyLk8RbifPm3jXP
- Paul Nattrall - Mr Bannock -https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s--03LlMFxeDYrGO_c
- Scott Iserhoff - Pei Pei Chei Ow -https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-esko7PrGnLP5xWO0
- Marie-Cecile Nottaway - Wataway Catering:https://platform.crowdriff.com/m/s-K25DXRRt7YJMy3az
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About Indigenous Culinary of Associated Nations
Launched with a vision for a world where Indigenous food is not a dish served for one but a cultural feast and celebration of Nations, ICAN is dedicated to sharing Indigenous food, culinary and cultural experiences from across Canada with the world. In November 2019, an MOU between the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and ICAN was signed to support a strategic framework to develop and market the countrys many Indigenous culinary experiences, and in turn, foster the growth of Indigenous culinary tourism on a national level.For more information visitwww.Indigenousculinary.caandwww.IndigenousCuisine.ca
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About Feast Cafe Bistro
Feast Caf Bistro is the first of its kind in Manitoba: serving modern dishes rooted in Indigenous history. In its first five years in operation, Feast has become a pillar in the West End of Winnipeg through its community initiatives and critically acclaimed menu options. Owner Christa Bruneau-Guenther is a homecook turned restaurateur whose passion and creativity are woven into the fabric of Feast. Christa's recipes have been featured in publications such as Canadian Living and Chatelaine, as well as on Food Network Canada. For more information, visitwww.feastcafebistro.com.
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About the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is the lead organization tasked with growing the Indigenous tourism industry across the country. Inspired by a vision for a thriving Indigenous tourism economy sharing authentic, memorable and enriching experiences, ITAC develops relationships with other groups and regions with similar mandates. By uniting the Indigenous tourism industry in Canada, ITAC works to enable collective support, product development, promotion and marketing of authentic Indigenous cultural tourism businesses in a respectful protocol. Prior to 2020, Indigenous tourism was outpacing Canadian tourism activity overall, and international demand for Indigenous experiences was at an all-time high.Due to Covid-19, ITAC recently releaseda reporton the financial challenges facing Indigenous tourism operators and recommended stimulus solutions.As well, a 2020-2021 revisedaction planfocused on sustaining Indigenous tourism in the face of Covid-19 was released in March.
