School Food Solutions: Building Your Team

Throughout the 2024/25 school year Farm to Cafeteria Canada hosted School Food Solutions, a monthly working group to discuss how to build and strengthen school food programs in Indigenous communities, and how to bring more Indigenous foods and foodways into schools. 

For the first session on Building Your Team (October 2024), Scott highlighted the importance of having the right people rooted in relational leadership roles, such as the school food champion, principal, and superintendent.

Wahkohtowin, or kinship, is important to the culture at MESC. He emphasized advocating for paid school food champions. He also emphasized aligning the program with community values, maintaining a balanced workload, and offering regular professional development for kitchen staff. Open communication and positive relationships between kitchen staff and the wider school community are essential and reflect Nehiyawewin concepts—like miyo pimatisiwin (the good life), miyo wîcêhtowin (good relationships). He also encouraged building and maintaining a sense of community through team-building activities and celebrating team successes.