Co-Presenters: Chief Fred Sampson, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer & Terry Raymond, Chief...

Co-Presenters: Chief Fred Sampson, Chairman/Chief Executive

Officer &

Terry Raymond, Chief Administrative Officer Siska Traditions Society

December 4th, 2009 Agroforestry WorkshopPrince George, British Columbia

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Presentation Overview Overview of Siska Traditions Society

Guiding Principles & Values – Indigenous Sustainable Harvesting & Economic Diversification

Key Products & Initiatives

Siska Traditions Society Work Environment

Questions & Answers (Q&A’s)2

Overview of Siska Traditions Society

Location of Siska First Nation – part of the Nlaka’pamux Territory

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Overview of Siska Traditions Society – cont’d Living off the land – An Indigenous Perspective

Non-Timber Forest Resources (NTFRs) & Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

Watershed Blockage and Court Case

Siska Traditions Society formally established in 2002

Produce various non-timber forest resources such as jams/jellies (i.e., Saskatoon berries, huckleberries), syrups, herbal teas, soaps and healing salves

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Overview of Siska Traditions Society – cont’d

Mission Statement:

Community strategies based on health, honourability, cultural and

spiritual values for economic diversity and success

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Guiding Principles & CulturalValues

Cultural Values/ Guiding Principles HonestyReliabilityConscientiousnes

s FriendlinessRespectfulnessTrustworthinessLoyalty

• How we deliver on our values/ principles…Action/participatory-

based researchSustainable & certified

harvesting practices – S.T.E.P.P

Co-existence on the land base with wildlife

Recipe evolution and evaluation – continuous improvement

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Sustainable Harvesting In Action

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Sustainable Harvesting In Action cont’d: Learning from Our Indigenous Knowledge Keepers

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Drying Racks - Process

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Key Products: Jams, Jellies & Syrups

Small 55ml $3.50 each or 4/$12.00Large 110ml $5.75 each or 4/$21.00

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Key Products (cont’d):Siska Soaps

Soaps - $3.50 each or 4 for $12.00 11

Key Products (cont’d) Siska Herbal Teas

Teas - 50 grams: $5.50 or 2 for $10.00 12

Key Products cont’d: Arnica Oil & Healing SalvesArnica Oil (25 ml -- $5.00)

Used for soothing aches, bruises and sprainsMajor ingredient is Arnica cordifolia flower which

is then infused with pure virgin olive oil for six weeks

Healing Salves (Small: $5.00, Large: $9.00)Used traditionally for muscle pain, bruising and

achesInclude balsam root and oregon grape

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Key Initiatives UnderwayDeveloping the Heskw’en’scutze Traditional Food Guide

Partnering on traditional knowledge research projects with academia Traditional Knowledge for Health Community

Research Project (partnership with University of British Columbia)

Measuring Success in managing for saskatoon berries and other traditionally important plants (partnership with Royal Roads University)

Engaging our First Nations Youth Youth Video Project 14

Siska Traditions Work Environment Employment: Nine First Nations/Nlaka’pamux Territory

harvesters (as of October/08)

Value-Driven & Green Workplace: Respect for Mother Earth and all her creatures – commitment to natural co-existence on the land base

Culturally-Responsive: Integrative Approach to Indigenous and Western Science Approaches

Capacity “Growing”’: Staff training and development

Meaningful Work: Challenging duties and responsibilities

Employee Engagement: Opportunities to participate in decision-making process – collectivist approach

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Next Steps

Developing a business plan and marketing plan for Siska Traditions Society

Engaging in strategic partnership discussions with Esh-Kn-Am Investments Joint Venture

Exploring new markets for our local products

Initiating product development for various types of vinaigrettes

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“The Little Band That Could”

Siska Traditions SocietyBox 519 Lytton, BC V0K-

1Z0Phone: 1.250.455.0072

Fax: 1.250.455.2539Email: siskaib@hughes.net

Website: www.siskatraditions.org 17