By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Local residents are invited to explore Indigenous food sovereignty in BC at a free screening of the inspirational “Tea Creek” documentary in Oliver on Nov. 30.
The event is being hosted by United Way British Columbia working with communities in BC’s North, Interior, Lower Mainland, and Central & Northern Vancouver Island and the Lower Similkameen Indian Band’s Ntamtqen Community Garden & Food Hub.
Doors open at 5 p.m. with refreshments and the screening begins at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a Q&A session with Tea Creek’s owner, Jacob Beaton and Ntamtqen’s project manager, Dixon Terbasket.
The 57 hectare (140 acre) farm produces over 9,072 kg (20,000 pounds) of produce each year.
Tea Tree Farm Facebook photo
Driven by the climate crisis and a desire for healing from the impacts of colonization, indigenous food sovereignty activist Beaton transformed his homestead into Tea Creek, a training centre at Kitwanga in Northern BC.
Beaton is a Tsimshian (which translates to “people inside the Skeena River”) gave up his successful business consulting career to co-create Tea Creek Farm alongside his wife, Jessica Ouellette.
Since 2020, Tea Creek has empowered hundreds of community members, earning national and international recognition, including the title of United Nations Food Hero for North America. The 57 hectare (140 acre) farm produces over 9,072 kg (20,000 pounds) of produce each year which the farm shares with community members free of charge.
The film by Indigenous filmmaker Ryan Dickie follows Beaton, his team, and young farmer Justice Moore through the growing season in the centre’s third year.
Their stories, set against the backdrop of Indigenous agricultural history and colonial oppression, showcase Tea Creek’s mission to reconnect people with the land, build resilience, and foster healing.
The produce grown on the farm is shared with community members free of charge.
Tea Tree Farm Facebook photo
United Way BC is addressing food security in rural areas such as Tea Creek through the Climate Resilient Communities: Food Infrastructure Grant (FIG), operated in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health.
FIG fosters community food self-sufficiency and develops sustainable and climate-adaptive food systems resiliency to enhance health and community wellbeing.
The event will be held at Venables Theatre in Oliver on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. and is free/donation at the door and pre-registration is required by signing up online or by calling the theatre box office at 250-498-1616.
