Meet the Balance Co-Lab Team Supporting the Mowachaht/Muchalaht Food Security Project
Phase 1 Nearing Completion: MMFN Food Security Project
We’re excited to share that Phase 1 of the MMFN Food Security Project is nearly complete! After 18 months of dedicated work, we are now in the final stages of preparing the project’s concluding report.
The Mowachaht/Muchalaht Food Security Project aims to map the current food security situation in the community and find out where the challenges are in accessing traditional and market foods. The goal is to find the gaps in access and come up with practical solutions to make sure community members have enough access to traditional and market food. In the end, the project will create an emergency food plan and propose new programs to build long-term food security for MMFN.
Working Hand in Hand: Ha’oom & Balance Co-Lab
As shared in a previous update, Ha’oom Fisheries Society is proud to be collaborating with the Balance Co-Lab—a dynamic team of 24 university-based researchers from five universities and 13 research units. The Balance Co-Lab is committed to advancing Indigenous self-determination, community capacity, and well-being. Their work brings together community- and university-based partners to co-create tools and systems for decision-making and impact assessment that are aligned with Indigenous knowledge and values.
Rooted in principles of self-determination, deep listening, and meaningful relationship-building, the Balance Co-Lab works closely with Ha’oom and the five Nations to ensure the project stays community-driven and grounded in Nuu-chah-nulth values.
Today, we’re pleased to introduce two Balance Co-Lab members who have played key roles in this project:
Justin Keefer — Research Assistant for Balance Co-Lab
Justine Keefer is a Dutch Settler and a PhD candidate in the School of Environmental Studies Political Ecology Lab at the University of Victoria. Born in Treaty 2 territory, she has lived on Treaty 6 and 7 lands and now resides on W̱SÁNEĆ territory. Justine’s work has involved consulting and policy roles with the Métis Nation of Alberta, and the Calliou Group, an environmental consultancy protecting Treaty rights. Her research focuses on how cumulative effects assessments can serve as a tool to uphold Nations’ rights. Justine’s role in the Food Security project involved gathering and synthesizing existing documentation to understand both the historical and current states of food security and fisheries. This work aimed to highlight what has been lost and to demonstrate the impacts of colonial practices on MMFN’s food systems.
Karen Fediuk — Research Lead for Balance Co-Lab
Karen Fediuk is an independent researcher with over 25 years of experience in Indigenous food systems and socio-economic and cultural impact assessment. As a Registered Dietitian, her work has been recognized by the Dietitians of Canada with the 2017 Association Catalyst Award for advancing the profession. Karen is a fourth-generation Ukrainian-Canadian. Entering this world on Musqueam territory, she has been grateful to live and raise her family on Hul'q'umi'num and W̱SÁNEĆ territories. As the lead researcher for the Food Security project, Karen collaborated with experts from MMFN and NTC, facilitated community engagement sessions, and worked closely with MMFN’s health team to implement and analyse a community survey. The research aimed to identify vulnerabilities and potential hazards within the food security and seafood supply chain, and to deepen understanding of what food security means for the MMFN community.
Our team has done some great work. We are excited to share the project report and our findings!
If you have questions or would like to connect with the project team, please feel free to reach out to us at audrey@haoom.ca. For more information about the Balance Co-Lab and their approach to supporting Indigenous-led governance, please visit their website at https://balancecolab.com.
Klecko Klecko!
Ha’oom Fisheries Society