Summer 2010 - Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative

In this issue:
Living off the land pg 1
Land, continued
pg 2
Hompetv Hayetv
pg 3
Wilson/Okemah
pg 3
Este Mvnettvlke emvpunvkv pg 4
Emetvlhvmke nak onvkv
pg 5
Hvse vhvmkvtkv
pg 6
In this
Clayton Brascoupe, Facilitator of ISCDC
Living off the Land
By Cassandra Thompson
Mvskoke Food Sovereignty
Initiative recently sent two staff, Ben
Yahola and Cassandra Thompson,
4 youth, Spencer Bear and Zachary
Medlock (Wilson School), David Yahola
and Celine Gray (Eufaula Boarding
School) to the 15th Annual Indigenous
Sustainable Communities Design Course
(ISCDC).
The design course is a thirteen-day
intensive training in ecological design,
natural farming and earth restoration.
The course is designed to reflect the
goals and strategies of the broader
Pueblo communities and partnership
organizations sponsoring the workshop.
These goals, strategies, and objectives
compliment
the
Permaculture
Water Irrigation and planting
methodology, which is: the conscious,
holistic design and maintenance of
biologically productive ecosystems that
have the diversity, stability, balance and
resilience of natural ecosystems.
Permaculture (permanent “agri”
culture), is a holistic approach based
on traditional practices for improving
air quality, water quality, health, and
ecosystems management. Permaculture
is the harmonious integration of
landscape and people, providing
food, energy, shelter, and other needs
in a sustainable way for all species.
Permaculture is working with nature
rather than against it; of protracted
and thoughtful observation rather
than thoughtless action; of looking at
systems to evolve beneficially, on their
own way, towards a state of maximum
natural productivity and abundance.
ISCDC 2010 Graduates
MFSI Mission:
Dedicated to enable the
Mvskoke people and their
neighbors to provide for
their food and health
needs now and in the
future through sustainable
agriculture, economic
development, community
involvement and cultural
and educational programs.
MFSI
208 West 6th Street
Okmulgee, OK
74447
918.756.5915
918.756.5918- Fax
please call before faxing
info@mvskokefood.org
www.mvskokefood.org
We are on Facebook
mvskokefood@gmail.com
Office hours:
Tuesday- Friday
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
MFSI Board of
Directors:
Rebecca Lindsey
Jackson Barnett
Odette Freeman
Darrell Fox
MFSI Advisory
Committee:
Johnnie Brasuell
MCN Diabetes
Land continued...
The group that represented MFSI plans to do a full presentation of all
the workshops they attended at ISCDC. Workshops were about permaculture,
our connection to the land, garden design, irrigation, solar energy, using
natural resources to make food, pottery, bread ovens and houses. By the end
of the course groups made a design using the techniques learned. All students
graduated from the course.
This years ISCDC theme, “Putting the words and knowledge of our
elders and ancestors into actions”, has motivated the staff and youth to
bring a course such as ISCDC to Oklahoma and share what we learned and
implement it in our daily lives. To learn more about ISCDC, visit www.tnafa.
org. You may also view photos of the course on our website or find ISCDC on
Facebook.
Sharon Iverson
MCN Diabetes- Dietitian
ISCDC GALLERY
Celine learns
to kill and
cut a chicken
Emman Spain
MCN Cultural Preservation
John West
Horticulturist
Yvette Wiley
MCN Environmental
Services
Donna Williams
Personal Chef
Lou Fixico
MCN Elderly Nutrition
Staff:
Vicky Karhu
Projects Manager
Ben Yahola
Community Coordinator
Rita Williams
Community Educator
H. June Marshall
Financial Officer
Dicey Barnett
Office Manager
Cassandra Thompson
Communications
Coordinator
My trip to New Mexico began
much like the reality TV shows of
today, we were put with a diverse
group of people and were put out
of our normal environment to
live together. The course taught
us ways we could use and live
off the things we already have,
things we have had all along and
most importantly how we are all
connected. The most inspirational
event was the women’s panel. They
were women who run their farms,
feed their family, provide for their
family, they’re healthy, happy and
passionate about sustaining a future
by carrying on traditions from our
people in our past. I was amazed
of how you could live off of such
little and the most of what you
need is the knowledge of the land
and its order. I realize this life has
become materialistic, but if I learn
the traditional agricultural ways I
can sustain my life, my family and
community for the future.
-Cassandra
Zachary &
Spencer mix
clay & straw
for earth
oven
Cassandra
builds and
makes a design
on earth oven
David & Zachary
dig water
catchment system
for plants
Ben stands at
the Puye Cliff
Dwellings
Hompetv Hayetv- To Make Food
MFSI Provides Healthy Meals
Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative has been cooking
healthy meals for our area youth at the Diabetes Camps and the
Indian Health Care Resource Center (IHCRC) Hand games.
For each meal, June Marshall, Dicey Barnett, and volunteers
for MFSI plan the menu for the meals and use local food sources
and food from the garden. Like most traditional Mvskoke foods
the meals are slow cooked and begin the night before or early in
the morning. With each meal, they include a food-related Mvskoke
language lesson and send recipes and nutrition information home
with the campers.
This summer MFSI has prepared four meals for Diabetes
camps and four for IHCRC. They will be cooking one more meal
for IHCRC Hand Game on September 18th. MFSI can bring an
Indigenous food and educational meal experience to your event. For
more information contact MFSI.
Dicey Barnett,
Tawna Little,
and Marcus
Briggs-Cloud
present at
Diabetes Camp
about healthy
food and a
healthy
environment.
Corn Woman Art by Tom Berryhill
becomes MFSI’s brand for Hompetv Hayetv.
We look forward to seeing her on cards and
books coming soon!
Wilson Indian Community starting a Farmers and Ranchers Group
Don’t forget!
Wilson Indian Community will be hosting a meeting with the Oklahoma
MFSI has connections... Farmers and Ranchers Monday, September 20, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. Everyone in the
We are on the
web and streaming!
MVSKOKEFOOD.ORG
Okmulgee and Henryetta areas are invited to attend.
Wilson Indian Community is located 10 miles north of Henryetta and 15 miles
west of Okmulgee. For more information please contact Rita Williams 650-9758 after
6 p.m. or MFSI 756-5915.
Okemah Hompetv Hvyvlke
Stream radio on
our web site. Native
American language,
gardening & farming
tips, Native American
music &more...
Are you a beginner or master gardener? Farmer? Someone who is just interested
about learning about Indigenous foods? Okemah will be starting a Hompetv Hvyvlke
(Food Preparers) group. The first meeting will be a social meeting and getting to
know each other and overall view of the things everyone would like to learn and how
to prepare for a community garden.
The meeting will be at Cassandra Thompson’s home at 106 B Fuscate in
Okemah’s Creek Nation Housing, beginning at 6:30, August 31st. Everyone is
welcome, please bring a lawn chair and dish to share. If you have any questions,
Cassandra can be contacted at 918.759.0883.
Este Mvnettvlke Emvpunvkv- Youth Speaks
The funnest part of the
trip to New Mexico would
have to be the rafting trip.
I enjoyed learning about
the irrigation systems they
use and I will show my
community how to us the
waffle grid system. I also
learned how people heat,
cool and build their houses
During the camp, I with natural resources.
My experience in New Mexico
learned that everything -Spencer
was very eye opening and mind
is connected. I learned
filling. I learned how to make
how to work the land
a bread oven and that we are
different with better
all connected to a spiral. My
techniques. I liked when
favorite workshop was when
we went to Roxanne’s
Miguel Santiseven talked to
and learned about the
us. I liked how he talked and
spiral and witnessed
how enthusiastic he is about
the waffle grid watering
permaculture. I want to take
system. I can’t wait
back as much as possible
to get home to show
knowledge to my community.
everybody how to cook
I’m very happy I attended this
and eat grasshoppers.
trip and hope to go back to New
-Zachary
Mexico soon. -Celine
Intern works at MFSI
My two weeks experience in New
Mexico was very educational. I
learned about the rough terrain with
the junipers and cactus everywhere!
The river was dry which flowed
every other day from the unusual
storms. We camped with people
from California, Canada, Arizona,
and some of the locals on Camino
de Paz Montessori School grounds.
We
had
discussions
about
environmental and community
issues daily including introductions
to permaculture approaching, guilds,
zones, sectors, and core models.
Which basically means working with
the land slopes and contours, from
the top of the slope to the bottom of
the slope, by slowing down the flow
of rainwater allowing vegetation
to take root. We visited a Puye, an
ancient community; observe passive
solar design, water catchment, soil
conservation, zones, and sectors.
We also Traveled to Flowering Tree
Permaculture Institute. -David
By H. June Marshall
Tawna Little is the daughter of Karen and Thomas Little and her paternal
grandparents are the late Clarence and Mary Little, maternal grandparents are Dicey and Ed Barnett. She is of the Kono Clan. Tawna is currently attending the University of Oklahoma where she will graduate in May 2011 with a Bachelor’s in Native American Studies.
Tawna served as a summer intern during July for Mvskoke Food Sovereignty Initiative.
Tawna is aware of healthy eating since she watches what she eats. Her interest in MFSI was
piqued because her grandmother Dicey Barnett works for MFSI and is totally involved in the
Wilson Indian Community Garden. Tawna’s internship involved working with MFSI in meeting
its mission objectives. She immediately became immersed in the community outreach program:
working in the garden, picking cucumbers, canning, picking watercress for sandwiches, presenting
at Diabetes wellness camps, planting a fall garden. She also attended a food conference, made MFSI says MVTO
vegetable fact sheets, and helped MFSI move and settle into their new location.
to all the youth
“I was able to see the small organization move and grow to something bigger than expected
and how much effort it takes when there are so little employees. But there is a lot of community for participating
involvement that I didn’t realize until I met the volunteers,” said Tawna. MFSI wishes Tawna the in the ISCDC
very best as she goes back to school to finish her senior year. We will miss her beautiful smile
and her willingness to help out wherever she is needed.
Want to submit a story to our Newsletter? Email it to cthompson@mvskokefood.org
MFSI Emetvlhvmke Nak Onvkv- MFSI Community News
MFSI is Following Up on our Followers
MFSI is a hardworking staff that is passionate about the services we offer and health,
food and fitness issues. We know that there are a network of people who share these
same passions and many more people to reach out to, so we would like to get an
update on all our farmers, ranchers, gardeners, health food advocates, and anyone
who is following our food movement to help people become healthier, sustainable
and aware of all food issues. Please fill out our short contact information form so
that MFSI can add you and update our member list and return it to our office by
mail, e-mail or fax. Mail to: 100 East 7th, Okmulgee, OK 74447. You may continue Mvskoke Food Sovereignty
to follow MFSI through our website and on Facebook. MVTO for your continued
Initiative to be
support and interest!
Represented in Italy
Name:
Cassandra
Thompson,
Address:
MFSI Communications CoordinaCity/State/Zip:
tor, was chosen through an application process as a delegate to attend
Phone Number(s):
the bi-annual Terre Madre event in
Email:
m Not tribally affiliated m Tribal Affiliation:_________________________ Torino, Italy, October 21st-25th.
The Terre Madre Conference is an
How are you connected to MFSI, check all that apply:
international network of food prom Farmer
m Rancher
m Gardner
ducers, cooks, educators, activists
m Health Food Advocate
m Herbalist
m Cook/Chef
and students from 150 countries
m Restaurant Owner
m Environmentalist
m Artist/Musician/
who are united by a common goal of
Poet
global sustainability in food. These
m Youth
m Teacher/Educator m Media/Journalist
“food communities” come together
m Health Official/Employee m Follower
to share innovative solutions and
m Other:______________________________
time-honored traditions for keepWould you be interested in volunteering at MFSI events or activities? Yes No
ing small scale agriculture and susHow do you hear about MFSI events?
tainable food production alive and
m Newsletter
m Website
m Facebook
well. This year’s theme is: A New
m Word of Mouth
m Flyers
m Other___________ Geography for the Planet.
Future Gardener Cassandra hopes to bring
MFSI Grand Opening
the food teachings of the world
After careful consideration of our current office
and experiences of Terre Madre
space and the amount of Mvskoke Food Sovereignty
back home. She hopes as she conInitiative (MFSI) staff, MFSI has moved to a new
tinues on with the food movement,
location in downtown Okmulgee 100 East 7th Suite 101.
everyone will encourage, support
The new location is at the Kress building that is also the Having a Blast at
and bless her with safe travels.
home of Okmulgee’s KOKL Radio Station and Melissa MFSI Food Bingo
Fundraisers and drawings will be
Dunlap’s Attorney Office. With the expansion of our new
held to support Cassandra for travoffice, we hope to expand some of our services in the
el expenses by family and friends.
near future by doing new and different projects to better
Two of the upcoming drawings
serve our Mvskoke people and neighbors.
will be tickets to an OU football
MFSI invites everyone to the MFSI Grand
MCN Princess’ at home game and 25 pounds of free
Opening on September 24th. Visitors can stop by
Farmer’s Market range pork meat. If you would like
anytime between 9 am - 4 pm. Refreshments will be
to follow her events and drawings
served throughout the day. We would like everyone to
you may email her at cthompson@
come and visit our Resource Center and Gift Shop that
mvskokefood.org, find her on faceis open during normal office hours. If you have any
book, or call her at 918.759.0883.
questions about the Grand Opening, contact the office at
918.756.5915.
MFSI is dedicated to making a real impact on food in Mvskoke Country
Hvse Vhvmkvtkv- Calendar
more effective activist, including how to lobby and
MFSI Film Night 6 pm. MFSI will be showing an how to develop an effective message. Register at http://
educational film with light refreshments. 100 East 7th Suite farmandranchfreedom.org/conference-2010 download a
registration form and mail it to P.O. Box 809, Cameron, TX
101 Okmulgee.
76520.
September 2nd
September 11th
September 14
A free workshop on Saturday, September 11, offers a
chance to learn about hoop houses, and get some hands on
experience building a low-cost version, at Belcher’s Bucket
of Berries, a U-pick farm near Sapulpa. The workshop is
free, but registration by September 7 is required to reserve
a place. To register, contact the Kerr Center for Sustainable
Agriculture by phone (918.647.9123), fax (918.647.8712),
or email (mailbox@kerrcenter.com). A registration form,
brochure, and driving directions are available online at
www.kerrcenter.com.
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, a gubernatorial candidate, will be
the keynote speaker at the Women in Ag/Small Business
Conference in Muskogee on Sept. 14, 2010. Muskogee
County and Okmulgee County Conservation Districts are
sponsoring the daylong event at the Muskogee Civic Center.
Download forms at http://www.ok.gov/conservation/News/
Women_in_Ag_Muskogee_2010.html
September 20th
Wilson Indian Community will be hosting a meeting with
the Oklahoma Farmers and Ranchers Monday, September
20th, at 6:30 p.m. Everyone in the Okmulgee and Henryetta
areas are invited to attend. Wilson Indian Community is located 10 miles north of Henryetta and 15 miles west of Okmulgee. For more information please contact Rita Williams
650-9758 after 6 p.m. or MFSI 756-5915.
September 13th-14th
Come join an exciting gathering of farmers, consumer,
and nonprofit activists at the 4th Annual Farm and Food
Leadership Conference, in Austin, Texas. This two-day
event will focus on policy and regulatory issues affecting
agriculture and our food supply, including the next Farm
Bill, food safety issues, raw milk, Codex, NAIS, water use
issues, regulation of slaughterhouses, Slow Money, and
more. There will also be workshops to help you become a
September 24th
MFSI Grand Opening! 100 East 7th Suite 101, Okmulgee.
MFSI
100 East 7th Suite 101
PO Box 813
Okmulgee, OK 74447
Visit www.mvskokefood.org for updates on trainings, events or
sign up to get the newsletter by email.
MFSI would like to thank the
following funding sources
for their continued support
of our work: USDA/NIFA
Community Food Projects
and Outreach and Assistance
to Socially Disadvantaged
Farmers and Ranchers; First
Nations Development Institute;
Honor the Earth Fund of the
Tides Foundation; Muscogee
(Creek) Nation and the Jesse
Smith Noyes and Harmon
Foundations.