First Nations elders displaced by wildfires are receiving traditional meals from volunteers who want to offer a taste of home. Grace Masse, from the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak harvester program, highlights the importance of traditional food for health and comfort, especially for those who have been uprooted from their homes. She expresses a personal commitment to ensuring elders eat well, reflecting on her own grandparents. Lester Balfour from Food Matters Manitoba adds that traditional food helps keep the community connected.
In response to mass evacuations during the recent wildfire season, MKO and Food Matters Manitoba collaborated to provide a variety of local foods, such as meat, fish, and vegetables. Much of the food is donated, with fundraising efforts ongoing. Notable support has come from the Tragically Hip, who have launched a T-shirt campaign to raise funds. Initially cooking outdoors, they moved to a commercial kitchen at Harvest Manitoba for better efficiency.
Today’s menu includes fried moose, potatoes, vegetables, bannock, and Saskatoon apple crumble. Elders, such as Theresa Bighetty, express joy upon receiving traditional food, emphasizing its cultural significance. While Red Cross provides basic necessities, community-led initiatives like this highlight the importance of catering to the specific needs of displaced individuals.
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