toca’s vision and approaches · 3/30/2014 1 nina sajovecaltshul tohono o’odham community action...
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3/30/2014
1
Nina Sajovec Altshul
Tohono O’odham Community Action (TOCA)
Sells, Arizona Tohono O’odham Nation
• The Tohono O’odham Nation is located in Southwestern Arizona.
• 4,600 square miles and approximately 70 miles across –larger than Connecticut.
• Approximately 22,000 of the tribe’s 28,000 members live on the Tohono O’odham Reservation.
• More than 50% are under 25 years old.
• In 1960, no tribal member had ever had Type 2 diabetes.
• Today more than 60% of adults over 35 suffer from diabetes.
• Children as young as 5 years old have Type 2 diabetes.
• 1.6 million pounds of tepary beans grown annually in 1930. Less than 150 pounds in 2000.
• 20,000 acres of traditional crops in 1936. Fewer than 2 acres in 2000.
O’odham Himdag...
Wisdom from our past,
Creating solutions for our future.
TOCA’s Vision and Approaches� TOCA is dedicated to creating a healthy, culturally vital
and sustainable TO community that is self-relient for its food, health and future leaders
� O’odham Himdag
� Asset-based organizing
� (Food) systems change vs. programming
� Empowerment model vs. service model
� Intense relationship-building in the community (TO Farm and Food Group, Coordinated School Health, TOHOHI etc.)
TOCA’s History of Traditional Food Work:
Planting the Seeds of Change
1995 - Community garden in Sells
1995 - Wild foods harvesting
2002 – Cowlic farm
2009 – Desert Rain Café in Sells
2009/10 - Traditional foods in
school lunches
2009/10 - School gardens in Sells
2011 - Beginning farmers programs
2012 - Farmers market in Sells
2013 – Native Foodways Magazine
Coming up in 2014:
Desert Rain Food Service
Traditional Food System
Dry-Land Farming
Wild Plant Harvesting
Hunting
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Elements of Food System
Production
Processing
Distribution
Cooking
Consumption
Cultural Practices
Giving Back
A Map of TOCA's Evolving Food System Work
The New Generation of O’odham
Farmers programs
- USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program
- USDA Socially Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher Program
- USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program
Production and distribution
School and community
programming
Spreading the message
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Native Foodways Magazine� Tells the stories of Native farmers &
gardeners... fishers & hunters... foragers &
wildcrafters... chefs & home cooks.
� Shares the inspiring community efforts to
preserve traditional foods & vibrant cultural
food traditions.
� Explores beautiful artistic expression
related to food.
� Provides recipes and resources for cooking
healthy & tasty meals.
� Documents the impact of national & global
food policies on Native communities.
� Showcases the fiction & poetry of food as a
cultural expression.
� Promotes Native food sovereignty.
� Premiere Issue was released in July 2013
Celebration of Basketry and Native Foods Festival
December 7-8, 2013
Tucson, Arizona
• Hosting native basket weavers and native chefs
from across native country
• Weekend of basketry presentations, film
showcase, cooking demonstrations, basketry
market place & traditional singing and dancing.
Next step:Desert Rain Food Service
A social enterprise dedicated to...
Supporting healthy, traditional
and scratch cooking in the schools
Integrating school food service
with curriculum, gardens and
educational programs.
Work with participating schools to
conduct an assessment of their
school food service.... What is
working? What are your
challenges? What would you like
to see?
Develop reports and
recommendations for each school,
as well as for the Tohono O’odham
Nation.
Work with selected schools to
implement recommended changes in
school food services and other
programs.
Begin providing food services for
schools, ranging from providing raw
traditional foods for schools to
prepare.... to prepared “heat and serve”
meals.... to full-service school meal
operations.
Work with schools, public health
programs and others to secure tribal
support for improved school foods.
Challenges
� With the change in weather we have been challenged with scheduling
of harvest gatherings. The drought also impacts the farmers who are
most in need of water for the farms, especially with the new
implementation of “non”- traditional crops that require more water.
� Introducing new /old vegetables to the community.
� In depth education about health issues, food sovereignty/food justice.
� Learning how to teach children.
� Building/strengthening relationships with school board, school
administration, principals & teachers.
� Strengthening working relationship with SODEXO School Food Service.
Continuing to keep traditional foods and produce from the garden in
the school lunch program
� Knowledge, time, cooking instructions & traditional food preparation.
� Parent involvement in school gardens.
� Creating better working structures and communication within our own
organization.
� Continous, long-term funding sources.
Thank you!
nina@tocaonline.org
520-561-7001
www.tocaonline.org
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