Indigenous wisdom offers deep insights into addressing global challenges – Castanet
Mar 13, 2024
The Secwepemc story, “Coyote brings food from the Upper world,” narrates how coyote brought plants for food and medicine to earth.
Coyote emphasized caring for the land, sharing resources and preserving the environment.
It’s an interesting origin tale filled with many lessons. It emphasizes the significance of using food as medicine and maintaining a harmonious relationship with the environment. The story portrays how different animals contribute knowledge to help Coyote’s family stay healthy, showcasing the importance of sharing wisdom and resources within communities.
It’s not a coincidence that a two-day conference held this week at TRU shared the same name as this powerful story. The Coyote Brings Food conference shared the research of 16 Indigenous researchers from around the globe, offering remarkable perspectives on food security and environmental protection. Several of the authors attended the conference in person. The event was held during IDays, a week-long celebration of cultures present on TRU’s campus.
The conference celebrated a unique partnership between TRU’s Knowledge Makers and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The partnership aimed to create an environment where ideas about sustainability and utilizing natural resources could be shared and nurtured, much like Coyote’s story emphasizes caring for the land and sharing resources.
