“We’re excited to work in solidarity with Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness and continue learning from the work they are leading," said Nelson.
Contacts:
Adrienne Carter at acarter@strength.org
Andrea Sockabasin at asockabasin@wabanakiphw.org
Brewer, ME - The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Indigenous communities, further underscoring disparities in economic stability and food access among Indigenous peoples in Maine and nationwide. Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness (WPHW) seeks to address these challenges with a holistic approach that supports families, and centers culture, wellness and resiliency.
No Kid Hungry, a national campaign of Share Our Strength, is pleased to continue its support of WPHW and the work they are leading through an Accelerator Grant. This grant will support the expansion of the Ktanaqson (pronounced duh-nuck-son) "Abundance" project, which seeks to further WPHW's goal of a sovereign and sustainable tribal food system for all five Wabanaki communities.
WPHW aims to meet the needs of low income tribal communities and tribal members by restoring Wabanaki food pathways, providing education around traditional foods and increasing knowledge on how to grow, harvest, store, preserve and cook their own foods. This project will also assist tribal members as they connect to federally assisted nutrition programs, such as SNAP and SNAP-ED. Through their efforts, WPHW plans not only to increase access to healthy and nutritious foods, but also to healthy and nutritious traditional foods.
"Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness has been doing such amazing work. Their programs not only celebrate local food, nourishment and tradition, but also increase access to important resources and benefits," said Tom Nelson, President and CEO of Share Our Strength. "We're excited to work in solidarity with WPHW and continue learning from the work they are leading."
"Every program at Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness centers traditional language and culture. Developing a sovereign and sustainable food system while celebrating food and culture is truly a dream come true. We are grateful for this partnership with Share Our Strength and know the results will yield healing results," said Lisa Sockabasin, Director of Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness.
WPHW serves the Wabanaki people in their home communities and around Maine. Through their collaboration with tribal chiefs and communities, they are paving the way for a more food secure, resilient and hopeful future.
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About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 6 kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.
About Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness
Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness’ (WPHW) mission is to provide community-driven, culturally centered public health and social services to all Wabanaki communities and people while honoring Wabanaki cultural knowledge, cultivating innovation, and fostering collaboration. Our values include: inclusivity, balance, and cultural centeredness. Wabanaki traditions, language, and culture guide our approach and describe the ways we live in harmony with each other and the land we collectively share.