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MIDWINTER HARVEST SUMMER WORK SCHEDULE

The Midwinter Harvest Food Program is an initiative coming out of the Mohawk Territory of Tyendinaga. From their program overview:

"Using food, and the traditional practices around its harvesting and provision as a focal point, Midwinter Harvest extends its reach and influence into the wider social, political and economic needs of First Nations communities. As a grassroots initiative, we have demonstrated a capability of encouraging a sense of pride and purpose in our young people in communities across the province where there was none. We believe that hope, pride, purpose and the belief in one's ability to exert control over his or her life are the cornerstones from which concrete strategies can develop to begin to restore health and balance to lives choked in grief and chaos."

Midwinter Harvest is looking for volunteers to show solidarity with this intiative by donating time and labour through the summer. Planting and construction have begun on the Midwinter sites. As always participation and assistance from outside Tyendinaga is both welcomed and appreciated. This year we are undertaking far larger gardens than in the past and are beginning construction on the "Harvest House" a 40 X 60 foot timber frame building to serve as - among other things - a community meeting house. We have decided not to restrict work to the weekends, but instead encourage people to get in touch with us based on their availability -
whether that is through the week or on a weekend.

Times that we are not running work periods are:

1. Sat. June 18th - 19th
2. Mon. August 1st - Friday, August 5th
3. Sun. August 28th - Mon. September 5

Apart from that, we are open to suggestions and look forward to seeing
you! We can be reached by phone at: (613) 968-3305 or by email at:
midwinterharvest@kos.ca

For more information on Midwinter Harvest and our ongoing projects, please
read on. For a full overview of the program, see:
www.ocap.ca/1stnations/midwinterharvest

Nia:wen kowa,
Midwinter Harvest Food Program


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Harvest House Construction
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This summer we will continue or work towards increasing our capacity to
harvest, process and distribute food with the construction of the "Harvest
House." In fact, this will be a series of buildings: a meat and fish
processing facility, a storage and distribution centre for venison, fish
and vegetables that will be easily accessible to community members and
community meeting and educational centre. Such a space is non-existent on
the reserve currently and would provide a forum for engagement in the
political and social issues facing our community and Nation. In addition,
a centre that would allow for greater involvement in our gardens,
harvesting and other projects will promote a greater awareness of Mohawk
cultural teachings and traditional practice.

A fish and meat processing facility is also presently non-existent and
it's absence a great void given the high percentage of families who rely
on fish and game as the major staples in their household. Currently these
families are forced to turn to businesses off reserve known for their
exorbitant prices, unsanitary conditions and poor quality work that
generally includes poundage lost to operators who don't think twice about
skimming choice cuts off the animal for themselves. Such a facility will
greatly increase our distribution capabilities as well, given that we too
have had to rely on the off-reserve facilities, largely at a personal cost
to the families involved in our organization.


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Community Gardens, Strawberry Patch & Traditional Foods Meal Program
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This spring we worked with children from the reserve school and early
childhood education centre to grow strawberry plants that will form the
beginning of a large community strawberry patch. In subsequent years,
this patch will provide the berries for our school's annual Strawberry
festival.

Adjacent to the strawberry patch, we have worked a large plot to grow food
that will be used by Midwinter's Traditional Foods Meal Program.
Initiated this February, Midwinter Harvest prepares and delivers meals
throughout the community on weekly basis. Free of charge, the meals
respect the unique nutritional and dietary need of Aboriginal people and
follow the Harvest cycles of venison, fish, ducks and rabbits and of
course, fresh produce in the summer.