“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you. ” – BB King
As we successfully presented our Infographic (pdf link) at the UBC Nest on Monday, our project was close to the end…We appreciate all moments of learning in the past 2 months, and specifically, this moment->
WHAT
As you have already read numerous times, the Indigenous Foodscapes project is an initiative put together in collaboration with Farm 2 School BC (F2SBC) and the Vancouver School Board (VSB). The overarching goal of our project was to document the needs and assets of Queen Mary and Xpey elementary schools in order to establish an Indigenous Foodscape (IF) on their respective school grounds. All our data was gathered from a tour at each school, hosted by the teachers specifically participating in this project, along with Lori Synder, a plant expert. By taking notes, audio recordings, and pictures, we were able to compile a multimedia report of our findings. The multimedia report would contain all the necessary information for the VSB to allocate sufficient funds to establish the IF project in each school.
Although the project objectives seemed unclear at the beginning of this semester, the second community partners’ meeting on March 5th really helped us to see what our purpose was. By sharing ideas among all the groups and seeing how they chose to document the respective IF projects on different school grounds, we were able to discern exactly what information the VSB needed us to compile for them so that appropriate funds could be allocated to each school.
SO WHAT
Our project solidified what was needed from each party involved in the IF project. The teachers at each respective school had to compile plant lists of what they needed to establish their IF while the VSB needed to know what each school already had and how proportionate funding allocations would assist them in achieving a sustainable IF. It was essential for both sides to be aware of what the other was doing, which made our role of communicating an important one. Lori was vital to the recognition of the various needs and assets on each schoolyard, as it was through her expertise that the teachers realized the resources they already had at their fingertips. At Xpey, the school tour revealed that many Indigenous plants were already in their possession. In contrast, Lori and the teachers discovered countless nooks and crannies for potential plants and learning experiences all over Queen Mary’s school grounds.
NOW WHAT
As a result of the documentation of assets and needs we collected, F2SBC and involved members of the VSB can determine the appropriate allocation of funds for each school. If these Both Queen Mary and Xpey elementary schools successfully carry out the F2SBC’s Indigenous Foodscapes project, their students will increase their awareness of Indigenous culture, health & nutrition, and environmental concerns.
Another “now what” that is unrelated to IF project and our community partner is one of personal learning, what the 5 of us will take from this experience as we move forward with our degree. We were all very inspired by the way Lori referred to the plants, even if it was to different degrees. She personified them saying things such as “she likes the sun” or “she has a lot of stories to tell”. Coming from very scientific, factual, and even seemingly unfeeling communities, this opened our eyes to another perspective of understanding the plant world, or as Lori refers to them, plant-peoples. It helped us realize what we already have around us, instead of looking to other places to see beauty and value.
Lastly, this entire experience has taught us how to maintain team morale and perseverance through uncertainty. Before the project really took shape, none of us could tell you what our roles or objectives were. The semester has constantly required our flexibility, both in our ideas and in our deliverables. Overall, it has been a privilege to work with Lori and Sam, as well as meet the teachers involved from each school. Thank you for keeping up with our journey this semester!
