Ways of knowing: Community-led research for Indigenous food sovereignty

This month SHIFT showcases a community-led research initiative focused on Indigenous food sovereignty. The collaboration brings together Tka:nios, an intergenerational initiative by Kahnawake community members to reclaim traditional Haudenosaunee ways of life through nurturing local foodways and advancing food sovereignty, with researchers from Concordia University's Centre for Engineering in Society.

This partnership reimagines how research can be conducted when driven by community priorities. Join us to explore how traditional knowledge and academic research can come together to support Indigenous self-determination and foster deeper connections between communities and universities.

Register here or drop by if you are on campus.

About the Speakers

Rae Skye Katsi’tsaronkwas Brooke Rice is one of the stewards of the Tka:nios project, bringing together intergenerational knowledge of food foraging, growing, harvesting and hunting to nourish the Kahnawake community’s connections with traditional foodways. In collaboration with community members and with the support of partners at Concordia, Brooke hopes to grow the Tka:nios project into a vibrant community food hub that will serve her community for many generations to come.

Dr. Govind Gopakumar is Chair and Associate Professor at the Centre for Engineering in Society. His research centres on the socio-political aspects of urban infrastructure and the governance of infrastructure change. His most recent book on automobility in Indian cities titled Installing Automobility: Emerging Politics of Streets and Mobilities in Indian cities is published by MIT Press in their Urban and Industrial Environments Series. As Chair of the department he seeks to develop graduate programs that seek to bridge engineering and critical inquiry.

Elena Tresierra-Farbridge is a recent Concordia graduate who grew up in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), the traditional territory of the Kanien'kehá:ka. She studied sociology and sustainability, with a focus on food and climate change. This research interest introduced her to food sovereignty, where she became curious about the relationship between food, land, and community. Elena started her own community garden near Kahnawake called the Food Forest Project. She is grateful for this opportunity to learn about the agriculture and food ways of the original stewards of this land and support Tkà:nios as they grow deeper roots in Kahnawake.

Please note: this event will be held in person at the SHIFT space. SHIFT is wheelchair-accessible (step-free access from 1400 de Maisonneuve Blvd West). Please note that masks are always provided at the front desk. If you have any other access needs, please email Emma Harake at least ten days prior to the event.

Learning Community Showcase: On the first Tuesday of the month, come meet members of SHIFT’s Learning Community and learn more about the socially transformative initiatives they are leading. Bring your own lunch or come and snack on what we have here.