Bow Valley Food Charter Background
In recent years, food movements have been gaining momentum across Canada. With a growing awareness about the need to create community-based food systems, one of the ways these movements advocate for change is through the creation of Food Charters, which outline a community’s values surrounding the foods they grow, harvest, and eat. Building on the creation of Food Charters that have been adopted by municipalities across the country, the Bow Valley Food Alliance began work on the Bow Valley Food Charter in early 2018. Central to the creation of this Charter was a series of community conversations, workshops, and take-home conversation kits available to all Bow Valley community members.
The Îyârhe Nakoda Nations of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley have been integral in contributing to the Charter process, including highlighting the relationship between the Buffalo Treaty and Bow Valley Food Charter. The Bow Valley Food Alliance is particularly grateful for the time that community members have contributed in sharing their knowledge.
I/We sign the Food Charter
An individual, an organisation, a business or a municipality can sign the Food Charter.
Together we can make a difference to move from food insecurity and food deserts in the Bow Valley to local food systems and food justice.
As signatories to the Bow Valley Food Charter, we value:
Local food systems,
based on resiliency and the Buffalo as a cultural and ecological keystone species, including communities’ ability to hunt (outside existing wildlife sanctuaries), harvest, gather, and grow food as well as advocate for change.
Vibrant regional economies,
based on self-sufficiency, local entrepreneurship, and alternative food initiatives that champion sharing, cooperation, and collaboration.
Social justice,
based on reconciliation and empowering marginalized communities, including fair wages and working conditions, adequate and appropriate food, secure housing, and community- based food programming.
Knowledge and education,
based on intergenerational and cultural learning, including community conversations, training, and school curriculum that build gardening, harvesting, and cooking skills as well as understandings regarding the impacts of our food systems.
Accessibility
to fresh affordable food, including culturally appropriate spaces to gather, grow, harvest, and prepare food in a welcoming and dignified way.
Health,
including the relationships between food and physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Collaboration and diversity,
including connecting communities and community members to each other through rich and varied food systems and their celebrations.
The earth and environment,
including regenerative food systems that honour the land and all living beings, and which respect Indigenous knowledges, biodiversity, protected and conserved areas, and water.