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Nina Sajovec Altshul

Tohono O’odham Community Action (TOCA)

Sells, Arizona Tohono O’odham Nation

• The Tohono O’odham Nation is located in Southwestern Arizona.

• 4,600 square miles and approximately 70 miles across –larger than Connecticut.

• Approximately 22,000 of the tribe’s 28,000 members live on the Tohono O’odham Reservation.

• More than 50% are under 25 years old.

• In 1960, no tribal member had ever had Type 2 diabetes.

• Today more than 60% of adults over 35 suffer from diabetes.

• Children as young as 5 years old have Type 2 diabetes.

• 1.6 million pounds of tepary beans grown annually in 1930. Less than 150 pounds in 2000.

• 20,000 acres of traditional crops in 1936. Fewer than 2 acres in 2000.

O’odham Himdag...

Wisdom from our past,

Creating solutions for our future.

TOCA’s Vision and Approaches� TOCA is dedicated to creating a healthy, culturally vital

and sustainable TO community that is self-relient for its food, health and future leaders

� O’odham Himdag

� Asset-based organizing

� (Food) systems change vs. programming

� Empowerment model vs. service model

� Intense relationship-building in the community (TO Farm and Food Group, Coordinated School Health, TOHOHI etc.)

TOCA’s History of Traditional Food Work:

Planting the Seeds of Change

1995 - Community garden in Sells

1995 - Wild foods harvesting

2002 – Cowlic farm

2009 – Desert Rain Café in Sells

2009/10 - Traditional foods in

school lunches

2009/10 - School gardens in Sells

2011 - Beginning farmers programs

2012 - Farmers market in Sells

2013 – Native Foodways Magazine

Coming up in 2014:

Desert Rain Food Service

Traditional Food System

Dry-Land Farming

Wild Plant Harvesting

Hunting

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Elements of Food System

Production

Processing

Distribution

Cooking

Consumption

Cultural Practices

Giving Back

A Map of TOCA's Evolving Food System Work

The New Generation of O’odham

Farmers programs

- USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program

- USDA Socially Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher Program

- USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program

Production and distribution

School and community

programming

Spreading the message

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Native Foodways Magazine� Tells the stories of Native farmers &

gardeners... fishers & hunters... foragers &

wildcrafters... chefs & home cooks.

� Shares the inspiring community efforts to

preserve traditional foods & vibrant cultural

food traditions.

� Explores beautiful artistic expression

related to food.

� Provides recipes and resources for cooking

healthy & tasty meals.

� Documents the impact of national & global

food policies on Native communities.

� Showcases the fiction & poetry of food as a

cultural expression.

� Promotes Native food sovereignty.

� Premiere Issue was released in July 2013

Celebration of Basketry and Native Foods Festival

December 7-8, 2013

Tucson, Arizona

• Hosting native basket weavers and native chefs

from across native country

• Weekend of basketry presentations, film

showcase, cooking demonstrations, basketry

market place & traditional singing and dancing.

Next step:Desert Rain Food Service

A social enterprise dedicated to...

Supporting healthy, traditional

and scratch cooking in the schools

Integrating school food service

with curriculum, gardens and

educational programs.

Work with participating schools to

conduct an assessment of their

school food service.... What is

working? What are your

challenges? What would you like

to see?

Develop reports and

recommendations for each school,

as well as for the Tohono O’odham

Nation.

Work with selected schools to

implement recommended changes in

school food services and other

programs.

Begin providing food services for

schools, ranging from providing raw

traditional foods for schools to

prepare.... to prepared “heat and serve”

meals.... to full-service school meal

operations.

Work with schools, public health

programs and others to secure tribal

support for improved school foods.

Challenges

� With the change in weather we have been challenged with scheduling

of harvest gatherings. The drought also impacts the farmers who are

most in need of water for the farms, especially with the new

implementation of “non”- traditional crops that require more water.

� Introducing new /old vegetables to the community.

� In depth education about health issues, food sovereignty/food justice.

� Learning how to teach children.

� Building/strengthening relationships with school board, school

administration, principals & teachers.

� Strengthening working relationship with SODEXO School Food Service.

Continuing to keep traditional foods and produce from the garden in

the school lunch program

� Knowledge, time, cooking instructions & traditional food preparation.

� Parent involvement in school gardens.

� Creating better working structures and communication within our own

organization.

� Continous, long-term funding sources.

Thank you!

nina@tocaonline.org

520-561-7001

www.tocaonline.org