In the summer of 2009, the Indigenous Peoples Program (IPP)will be presenting what could turn out to be a turning point gathering. On June 4-6, 2009, the 3rd North American Indigenous Food Symposium (NAIFS 2009) will be held at Muskoday First Nation and Travelodge Hotel, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The symposium will be in partnership with the Muskoday Organic Workers Co-op, First Nations Agricultural Council of Saskatchewan Incorporated, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Heifer International, Saskatchewan Organic Directorate, the Aboriginal Education Research Centre and the Department of Native Studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

The goal of this very important symposium is to assist indigenous communities in utilizing the knowledge gained through sustainable methods in order to support their environmental and traditional foods restoration activities. To implement this goal, our objectives will be to focus on the use, cultivation, harvesting, cooking, and eating of traditional indigenous foods to improve health and enhance tradition, as well as make a direct link between environmental, cultural, and mental health that will contribute to community healing and empowerment. The symposium will also be inviting national indigenous food producers, organic companies and organizations to showcase their products and resources to the city of Saskatoon. The proposed NAIFS 2009 keynote will be writer, activist, environmentalist, economist and Executive Director of Honor the Earth and White Earth Land Recovery Project, Winona LaDuke. Please visit her website at [http://www.honorearth.org ]www.honorearth.org for more information about her and her work.

To ensure that the NAIFS 2009 is well represented by all sectors of the province, the NAIFS committee is asking you to consider registering for the three day event or submit a research/project/poster as outlined in the attached document, "NAIFS 2009, Call for Papers/Posters".

In registering or submitting a paper/poster to the NAIFS 2009, your organization will be making an important investment in health, education and the environment. With the help of socially responsible citizens, academics, corporate members of the community and civic organizations we are committed in our work to uplifting the cultural morale of the indigenous peoples of North America. We believe that by protecting and developing the integrity of traditional food systems is key to the heritage of indigenous peoples. We ask for your support and we look forward to hearing your response.

You can register through numerous ways:

1. By phone: call the registration office at (306) 966-5539 and have a major credit card available.
2. By fax: fill out the registration form attached and fax back to (306) 966-5567
3. By email: download, fill out and email a word document registration form. Find the form online here.  E-mail it to alex.munoz@usask.ca.
4. In person: register at the registration office located at 221 Cumberland Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

To submit a paper/poster please download this pdf: "NAIFS 2009, Call for Papers/Posters." 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Alex Munoz at (306) 966-2027 or (306) 261-4741.