We are what we eat and we are our land!

I didn't grow up hunting and fishing with my parents. But, Mom and dad did go goose and duck hunting and I remember jokes about mom being the better shot! And dad always commemorated my birthday by telling me he killed 20+ ducks the day I was born! It somehow seemed that the killing of such plenty was a celebration of my birth!!I did, however, grow up sneaking pemmican from the big jar that was in the bottom cupboard that came from Grandma May, who also made rabbit soup for us! And, I ate smoked suckers or whitefish at my Kookums.I didn't learn the importance of eating what is provided us from our lands until falling in love with Bryan Jack, Watsait of the Taku River Tlingit Wolf Clan in the winter of 1991.Bryan is an amazing hunter and man of his lands and waters. I've been honoured and humbled to follow him around in the bush and in the boat since then and have learned so much from him and his family!The most glaring and deep truth is that only eating what we buy in the stores is killing us as indigenous peoples and has separated us from our lands, waters and original cultures. In the last two months, five people I know and loved have passed on and I can't help but think of the link between our original hunting, fishing, gathering lifestyles and our quality and length of life.I can't help but think of the link between sugar and addiction. Addiction to food and pop that converts to sugar and addiction to alcohol that is mostly sugar and wonder how many of our people are conscious that what we eat and drink is killing us? I know I wasn't!And, sugar is also killing our land based relationships with each other and out within our lands. There is something very powerful about seeing your husband stand down a grizzly bear that strengthens a marriage! And, when my husband eats what I have prepared from his hunting and fishing, I also see love and respect for me in his eyes that somehow is not inspired by Kraft Dinner or caesar salad!Wow! Our relationship with what our land provides us to survive is such a massive topic, but for this moment, I was inspired to write a little after bumping into Laurie Ducharme from Four Arrows in Winnipeg because she was in her way to a National Food Security Conference.It occurred to me that, while I really only understand food security like any other average Canadian, based on the media and general public knowledge, I have noticed that many talk about us indigenous people and food security in terms of affordable dairy products; which are also sugar and killing us!So, these are just my initial thoughts!My own health became my priority when I finished law school in 1991 and met Bryan and we starting living and loving with our children, as the each arrived, out on our lands and waters.I began seeing the connections and while the "use it or loose use it [for profit] doctrine that underlies the entire Canadian legal system is not supposed to apply to us as indigenous peoples, it sure as hell doesn't hurt our rights as indigenous peoples if the bull dozer is going to run into one or two of us out there!!I've always said "If you teach your children to eat what our lands and water provide, they will fight for their land and water because everyone loves what they eat!"In closing today, some say that sugar is more addictive than cocaine! Go figure!! Who knew? I didn't. 🙄And, if anything I shared resonated with you, share my blog and message me on Facebook! Let's talk!!Keep calm and moose nose on!!