Dawn Matheson, agriculture program lead with Ulnooweg Education Centre, outside the charity’s food hub at 836 Willow St. in Millbrook. The food hub is scheduled to open in September. Photo by Contributed /Truro NewsArticle contentMILLBROOK – For Dawn Matheson, connecting with the community is what she looks forward to most with the opening of the Ulnooweg Education Centre’s new food hub.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentMatheson, the lead for the centre’s agriculture programs, hopes everyone feels welcome and comfortable being themselves in the new space.Article contentArticle content“I just hope it brings a little happiness,” she said. “Even if it’s connected to food.”Article contentArticle contentFor years, the Indigenous-led charity has run its food programming in borrowed spaces across Nova Scotia. Through workshops, participants learn food skills to strengthen food security and food sovereignty in their community, while practising Mi’kmaw culture.Article contentNow, the centre is opening a permanent location in Millbrook. The food hub, located at 836 Willow St., will be a social enterprise and welcomes both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. It is scheduled to open in September.Article content The Ulnooweg Education Centre teaches food skills to Indigenous communities through its agriculture program. Pictured are participants of the centre’s Mi’kmaw language revitalization program, where individuals learned food skills while practising Mi’kmaw language. Clockwise around the table from the front left are Laura Battiste, Russell Battiste, Carol Marshall, Belinda Basque, Tashia Ashanti, and George Marshall. Photo by Contributed /Truro NewsArticle contentThe hub will have a store with fresh produce, preserves, and other items created through programs and workshops offered through the centre’s agriculture program.Article contentThere is also an on-site kitchen that the public can rent. The basement of the building will also be used as a rental space and for programming.Article contentThe centre hopes to grow food security and food sovereignty in Indigenous communities across Atlantic Canada through programming and opportunities at the food hub.Article contentArticle contentThe space’s first year of rent is covered by a $25,000 Feed Nova Scotia grant.Article contentAGRICULTURE PROGRAMArticle contentThe Ulnooweg Education Centre is an Indigenous-led charity that runs hands-on learning programs for Indigenous communities and youth.Article contentThe centre’s agriculture program was established in 2020, when it built greenhouses in Indigenous communities across Atlantic Canada.Article contentThis project responded to rising food insecurity in Indigenous communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the greenhouses, each community could grow and harvest produce.Article content“Those kind of became models of what we were hoping to achieve within communities,” said Chris Googoo, chief operating officer of Ulnooweg Education Centre.Article content The Ulnooweg Education Centre’s agriculture program helped build greenhouses in a handful of Indigenous communities across Atlantic Canada. Pictured is the community greenhouse located in Lennox Island on Prince Edward Island. Photo by Contributed /Truro NewsArticle contentThe agriculture program grew to include community gardens, youth farmers markets, and language lessons.Article contentThe new food hub plans to teach various food skills to individuals from different First Nations communities in Atlantic Canada. Then, they can return home and share what they have learned in their own communities, therefore expanding the agriculture program’s reach.Article content“This food hub is not only going to teach the local area, both Indigenous and (non-Indigenous),” said Googoo, “but also bringing community members from outside of Millbrook here and teach them how to do this in their own communities. So we’re building up that network of supports for them.”Article content
Indigenous-led charity opening food hub in Millbrook
