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Witset Food Survey

The intent of the survey is to understand our community's relationship with food and how we currently sustain ourselves. We hope to identify any challenges to healthy eating and our ability to gather food in traditional ways; an important part in connecting us with the Yintah (land) like our Witsuwit'en ancestors were prior to colonization. For thousands of years, our ancestors were food secure and closely connected to the land and water that provided the food and medicine to sustain them. For our planning purposes, our focus area is the community of Witset.

In addition, this survey is an opportunity for you to share your ideas on the future of food in Witset and the activities needed to strengthen food security. If you would like to be involved or enter the draw, please include your contact info at the end of the survey. All responses are confidential and will not be associated with any of the findings or represented in the reporting unless consent is obtained.

1.Do any of the following food issues impact you?

Not enough time to go grocery shopping or cook

The food stores are too far away

I have to pay someone to get a ride for food or take transit

Feast hall food is unhealthy

The kinds of food I want are not easily available or too expensive

I struggle to maintain a healthy weight

Not enough traditional Witsuwit’en food is available

Not enough time to do the traditional food harvesting practices I want to do

Food that is affordable and/or nearby is unhealthy

I do not have a working stove or own equipment needed to prepare the foods I like

I do not have enough space and storage for my food needs

Not able to cook or eat because of health problems

I cannot access the territory to harvest, gather when needed

I don't have enough knowledge to know how to gather/hunt/fish in traditional ways

Food is more expensive because I require a special diet for my health condition

I have allergies/food sensitivities that restrict the foods I can eat

My children or other members in my household are too "picky"

2.Over the past 12 months, what statements are true for your household?

Never

Some months, but not every month

Every month

Always

We worried that food would run out before we got money to buy more

Never

Some months, but not every month

Every month

Always

We had to cut size of meals or skipped meals

Never

Some months, but not every month

Every month

Always

We relied on low-cost food to feed child(ren)

Never

Some months, but not every month

Every month

Always

We rely on food assistance programs to get by such as food bank, hamper programs, community meals, coupon programs, etc.

Never

Some months, but not every month

Every month

Always

We eat enough food, but not always the kinds of food we want to eat

Never

Some months, but not every month

Every month

Always

We always have enough of the kinds of food we want to eat

Never

Some months, but not every month

Every month

Always

Please include any additional comments

3.Select your food sources

Growing my own food

Fishing

Hunting

Foraging (berries, mushrooms)

Fast Food Restaurants

Smoke fish

Canning or jarring

Go to parents, relatives, or friend house to eat or given by them

Purchase from local growers/farmers (within 10 km)

Gas Bar or other convenience stores

Grocery stores in Smithers

Farmer's market

Travelling to PG or Terrace to buy food

Food bank and hamper programs

School or Community meal programs

Trading or bartering

4.What would you like to see more of?

Opportunities to learn or practice traditional food ways

More community meals

Local stores offering fresh foods and healthier options

Garden box program

A community root cellar or cold storage

Establish a Community Pantry

A dedicated space for communal cooking and food processing

Workshops on specialty diets to treat diabetes or other health issues

Healthier foods in the Balhats (Feast)

Forming buying clubs to purchase foods in bulk for a lower price

Cooking and preserving food together

More food skill education for kids, youth, adults, and seniors

Kids in school having healthier food options

Lending library for garden tools and cooking equipment (i.e. pressure cookers, mixers, smokers, etc.)

Investing in local businesses and organizations that provide food

A plan on how to adapt to global warming and climate variability

supports needed to address complex trauma and understanding how our body holds stress

Take home meal packages that you can prepare at home (similar to HelloFresh, Chef's Plate models)

5.What are the most common ways that you prepare food?

Most of the time

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Cooking from scratch (soups, roasted meats, stir-fry, etc.)

Most of the time

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Salads or eating raw

Most of the time

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Preserving food (e.g. drying, smoking, canning)

Most of the time

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Barbequing and smoking

Most of the time

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Cooking in groups

Most of the time

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Reheating pre-packaged meals (e.g. frozen pizzas, soups from a can, TV dinners)

Most of the time

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Eating out or take out

Most of the time

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

6.How would you like to get involved?

Help teach others how to hunt/gather/fish in traditional ways

Become a community caterer

Start or join a cooking class or gardening club

Start or join a support group to get to a healthy weight

Preparing and serving healthy foods in the Balhats (Feast)

Forming buying clubs to purchase foods in bulk for a lower price

Host a small group to cook and preserve food together out of my home

Start a backyard garden or chicken coop

Use a community greenhouse or garden space

Help provide food skill education for kids, youth, adults, and seniors

Help provide local healthy food in the early years for children

Interested in farm training or mentorship

Interested in leasing a portion of my land that could be farmed to provide healthy food to the community

Please provide your name and number if you would like to be contacted about being involved

7.Select the top 4 items that would be most important to you

Drinking water is clean & sustainable

Establishing a sustainable organic farm

Establishing local food markets

Follow Wituswit’en protocols when on the land

Increase food assistance programs such as food bank and meal programs (e.g. breakfast, afterschool, holiday)

Increasing affordability of and access to food

Increasing transportation to grocery stores and other food sources

Learning Witsuwit’en food harvesting protocols and language terms

Partnerships with local farmlands to provide healthy and sustainable foods

Protecting rivers and forests, so the land is healthy

Providing a guaranteed basic income for all households

Providing affordable and suitable housing for all ages, genders and abilities

Providing educational opportunities around food (e.g. farm training, greenhouse growing, mentoring on traditional practices, food preservation)

Providing local healthy food in the early years for children

Reconnecting to traditional fishing, hunting, harvesting, food preparation/preservation, and food celebration practices

Using technology and innovation to produce food year-round

8.Base on your answers, please add any comments or ideas here

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