Colours: Red, Black, Green

• Red:  The blood that unites all Black people, and that has been shed because of slavery and subjugation.
• Black: Black people and the strength of their community.
• Green: The fertility of  Africa’s natural resources.

• The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/universal-negro-improvement-association
• The Museum of Toronto: https://www.museumoftoronto.com/collection/marcus-garvey-and-the-unia/
• The Universal Negro Improvement Association & African Communities League: https://unia-aclgovernment.com/

NEA ONNIM NO SUA A, OHU :

References

Key Concepts:

• Race: A social and political construct, with no scientific basis, used to arbitrarily categorize people based on their physical traits, cultural, geographical, social, political, and economic factors. It is a frame of reference used to locate, compare, and differentiate Europeans from other socially-constructed groups.
• Anti-Black Racism: A particular form of racism expressed towards Black people and seen in policies and practices rooted in Canadian institutions such as education, healthcare, and justice that mirror and reinforce beliefs, attitudes, prejudice, stereotyping, and/or discrimination.

What We Know

What We Do Not Know:

The Importance of Continuing This Work

In the final section of this chapter, we reflect on the everyday experiences of racism that Black individuals encounter. These experiences often manifest as "brief and commonplace, daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)" (Sue et al., 2007). Though seemingly minor to those who perpetrate them, these instances, often referred to as microaggressions, have a profound cumulative impact on the well-being and mental health of those who experience them. They contribute to feelings of exclusion, alienation, and a diminished sense of belonging within various settings, including professional and healthcare environments (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).

Key Concepts

• Microinsults involve subtle comments or behaviours that demean a person's racial heritage or identity. For example, assuming that a Black individual is not as competent or qualified as their non-Black peers, or making backhanded compliments such as, "You're so articulate for someone like you." These statements diminish the dignity of the individual and reinforce stereotypes, even if the speaker is unaware of their harmful impact (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).
• Microassaults are more explicit and intentional discriminatory acts. These are often overt but can sometimes be disguised as jokes or offhand remarks. An example might include deliberately excluding someone from an opportunity based on their race or using derogatory racial terms. While microassaults can sometimes be defended as jokes or harmless comments by the perpetrator, their effect on the recipient is harmful and dehumanizing (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).
• Microinvalidations are comments or actions that dismiss or negate the lived experiences of Black individuals. For instance, telling someone that racism is no longer a significant issue in today’s society or that they are overreacting when describing a racist encounter is a form of microinvalidation. This can lead to individuals feeling as though their experiences of discrimination are being ignored or minimized, further contributing to a sense of isolation (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).

Historical Context

Cultural Diversity

Social and Political Dimensions

Individual and Collective Identity

Contemporary Relevance

Historical and Social Constructs

Systemic Privileges

Cultural Norms and Practices

Impact on Racial Dynamics

Challenging Whiteness

Contemporary Relevance

Anti-Black Racism (ABR)

White Supremacy

 “Roots that are strong produces strong plants for example , strong trees and that’s what we want with this farm is to create roots within our community that strengthens and binds us together so we can grow as a community” ” - Kishon Warmington

 

Individual and Interpersonal Racism

Institutional Racism

Internalized Racism

Systemic and Structural Racism

Reverse Racism

• Ignoring or telling a racial slur or inappropriate joke told by a friend or colleague.
• A faculty member ignoring issues and reports of racism in their classroom.
• A mayor ignoring complaints from Black community members about the local grocery franchise in a predominantly Black neighbourhood that is frequently unkept.
• Community members not holding the local farmer accountable for taking advantage of Black migrant farm labourers, in his attempt to avoid offering a livable wage, which white locals citizens are less likely to accept because of labour laws.

• A university nutrition program that recognized that the majority of their student recruits are white and make no policy changes to help diversify their student-base.
• A Black nutrition professional who practices and teaches traditional and cultural nutritional wisdom having to prove their qualifications while Westernised naturopathic practices and teachings often appropriate these forms of knowing.
• A health clinic whose media, promotional items and, resources only represent white people and white communities.

• Promoting the Mediterranean Diet as one of the best diets for preventing chronic diseases. Meanwhile, Black and Brown cultures that are also a part of the Mediterranean, are not acknowledged for their strong influence on the foods and nutrients included in the Mediterranean diet.
• Health research messaging which continues to suggest that Black people and Black communities inherently consume unhealthy diets which makes them at a higher risk of disease.

Figure 3.1: Power Triangle (Arnold & Burke, 1991; Dismantling Racism, n.d.)

Neutral Policies or Practices

Biases

Critique of Professional Norms

• Mosby, I., & Galloway, T. (2017). “Hunger was never absent”: How residential school diets shaped current patterns of diabetes among Indigenous peoples in Canada. Cmaj, 189(32), E1043-E1045.
• Mosby, I. (2013). Administering colonial science: Nutrition research and human biomedical experimentation in Aboriginal communities and residential schools, 1942–1952. Histoire sociale/Social history, 46(1), 145-172.
• Link to Harvard Bias test: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

Audio of Video: Meditation for Black People

Audio of Video: Meditation for Allyship (Audio)

• Seek support from mental health services: Consider reaching out to mental health professionals if you need support. Many universities and organizations offer discounted counseling services that can provide a safe space to discuss your feelings.
• Join a support group: Joining a support or advocacy group can offer a sense of community and shared understanding. Look for groups focused on anti-racism work or those supporting Black communities at your school, workplace or home community.
• Engage in meditation and mindfulness: Guided meditation sessions to help calm your mind and reduce stress. You can find Apps and Youtube videos that offer specific meditations for relaxation and self-care. Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine.
• Move your body: Engaging in physical activity promotes a reduction in stress hormones
• Breath: Deep and intentional breathing is also a form of self-care that promote overall health and wellness. There are a variety of smartphone Apps, smartwatch Apps, podcasts and online videos to help guide you. Check out Black Girls Breathing for guided breathwork tools to share with your Black friends and colleagues

• Listen to Sound Therapy:
  • Music and Sound Baths: Listen to music that soothes and uplifts you. Sound baths, which use specific tones and frequencies to promote relaxation, can also be beneficial. You can find sound bath recordings on platforms like YouTube and Spotify.
  • Nature Sounds: Nature sounds, such as ocean waves, rain, and forest ambiance, can help create a calming environment. Use these sounds during your study sessions or breaks.

• Listen to a Podcasts for Self-Care: Listening to podcasts can be a great way to engage with self-care practices and learn from others' experiences. Here are some recommended podcasts that focus on self-care, mental health, and empowerment:
  • Therapy for Black Girls: A podcast hosted by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, dedicated to mental health and personal development for Black women and girls.
  • The Self-Care Project:  A podcast by Jayne Hardy who focuses on various self-care techniques and the importance of prioritizing your well-being.
  • Radiant Rest: A podcast by Tracee Stanley, dedicated to supporting women of colour in achieving meaningful self-care
  • Mindfulness with Minaa: A podcaste by Minaa. B who offers guidance on how individuals may live with intention and develop healthy relationships with themselves and others
  • Unlocking Us with Brené Brown: Explores themes of vulnerability, courage, and empathy, providing valuable insights for personal growth (Brown, n.d.).

Representation and advocacy are critical for addressing issues of burnout and ensuring that diverse perspectives are included within the dietetics profession. Increasing representation Black dietitians can help to combat systemic biases and improve cultural competency in healthcare. The Canadian Black Registered Dietitians Association (CBRDA) is dedicated to advocating for Black dietitians and enhancing the profession’s inclusivity.

Case 4.1: Creating Culturally Appropriate Resources 

Evelyn, a new Black dietitian of Ghanian descent, was looking for sodium content information in traditional Ghanian foods to host a community education session about hypertension for her Ghanian-Canadian community. After looking in both the Canadian and US hypertension and sodium resources, she was unable to find the information. When she mentioned it to co-workers and asked if any of them knew of any resources for her their response was, “No, sorry. Why don’t you just make a resource yourself?” Resolute to provide culturally relevant information to her community, she asked around for other Black dietitians. One of her colleagues, Michelle, said “I heard something about a Black dietitian network, but I don’t think they really do anything.” Evelyn was able to get in touch with CBRDA and she found 2 dietitians, Esther and Sarah, who were working on a very similar resource for their clients. Evelyn joined Esther and Sarah and created a West African Hypertension working group to develop a resource for both Ghanian and Nigerian clients. The working group was able to save all 3 dietitians so much time and they were able to bond with each other in the process.

Additional Resource:

• Diversify Dietetics

"Because we are socialized in the program to be a certain way, being disruptive is really, really hard and going against maybe what you've been taught even if it contradicts your experience is very hard and so, my encouragement is to reflect deeply and to stay true to what it is your experience has been."- Natalie Riediger

 

Figure 4.1

 

Nurses Health Study: A Resource for Metabolic Disease Research

The Nurses Health Study is a comprehensive long-term research project focused on understanding the factors influencing women's health. It provides valuable insights into a range of health conditions, including metabolic diseases, which are crucial for evaluating health disparities among different racial and ethnic groups.

For more information on the Nurses Health Study, visit their official website: Nurses Health Study. This resource complements our discussion by offering data and research that can help in assessing the inclusivity and applicability of health research within diverse populations.

Impact on Black health

Biased dietary guidelines contribute to health disparities by inadequately addressing the unique health needs and challenges faced by racialized populations, including Black individuals. Eurocentric perspectives and cultural insensitivity in guideline development perpetuate stereotypes and undermine the cultural significance of diverse food practices, further exacerbating inequities (Kipnis et al., 2002).

Case Study 4.2: Clinical Assessments of People with Darker Skin

Food justice is an essential aspect of addressing systemic inequities within our food systems. It encompasses advocacy for dignity, equity, and community engagement, focusing on addressing food insecurity through community-based solutions. Food justice involves confronting systems of oppression, including patriarchy and misogyny, and understanding the intersectionality of various forms of economic injustice. Urban farming and culturally appropriate practices are vital components in promoting economic equity and ensuring that all communities have access to nutritious and culturally relevant foods.

Supportive Readings:

“There’s no culture without food”

 

Case Study: Barriers to accessing culturally appropriate foods for the Black Community in Canada

Case Study: Structural Racism

• Canadian Black Farmers
• BIPOC Farmer Network

Many dietetic programs in Canada lack comprehensive curricula on cultural humility and the social determinants of health, leaving future dietitians ill-equipped to address the unique needs of diverse populations. Addressing these gaps requires a fundamental reorientation of dietetic education to prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion (Henry & Tator, 2010).

Continuing Education

Practicing dietitians may have limited opportunities for continuing education on ABR, resulting in outdated knowledge and practices that do not align with current understanding of health equity and social justice. Investing in ongoing professional development that centers on anti-racist education is essential for advancing equitable nutrition care in Canada (Braveman et al., 2022; National Museum of African American History and Culture, n.d.).

Professional Norms

The norms and values embedded within the dietetics profession can perpetuate systemic biases, hindering efforts to promote health equity. Challenging these norms requires a commitment to dismantling institutionalized racism within dietetics and fostering a culture of inclusivity, accountability, and social responsibility (ACLRC, n.d.; Braveman et al., 2022).

ABR Training

Equity Diversity and Inclusion

1. Show Respect for Individual Experiences, Perspectives, and Autonomy: At a follow-up appointment, your client discloses they were not able to follow the care plan. They explain it is too costly to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins. You ask the client to share their eating, cooking, and food sourcing habits. By becoming familiar with their understanding of healthy eating, you can work with them to identify the foods and services they enjoy and have easy access to, that will also meet your healthy eating recommendations.
2. Educate Yourself and Spread Awareness: You notice the curriculum is centered around European eating practices. You want your nutrition care skills to be flexible in meeting the needs of diverse clients and begin researching cultural foods and practices. Once you have a foundation of knowledge, you share your concerns with one of your course instructors and ask that they incorporate diverse perspectives into the remaining course content.
3. Speak Up When You See Prejudice and Unfair Treatment of Others: You are the lead practitioner in a family health team. The doctor, a woman of colour, goes into the waiting room to get her next patient. The patient says, “You can’t be my doctor, you must be the receptionist.” After the doctor politely explains their credentials, the person insists they want another doctor. You intervene and explain to the patient that their remarks are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Your team provides a referral for the patient to see another doctor.
4. Lead Change in Professional/Academic Settings to Improve Quality of Life for All: You are a dietitian in a local public health unit recognized as a food desert where many of the citizens lack access to affordable fresh produce that is appropriate for their cultural needs. You create a group led by the citizens to secure funding for subsidized food baskets that can be distributed to families that sign up on a biweekly basis. The program also features weekly storytelling sessions and cooking workshops where community members can share their meanings of food and recipes. An important feature of the program is all community facilitators are compensated for their time (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2019).

Cultural Safety

Reflective Practice: RDs should engage in reflective practice to examine their own cultural biases and assumptions. This self-awareness is essential for providing culturally safe care to clients from diverse backgrounds. Reflective practice can be facilitated through journaling, peer discussions, and supervision sessions.

Client-Centered Care: Practicing RDs should prioritize client-centered care from a place of cultural safety, that respects and validates the cultural identities and lived experiences of individuals. This involves actively listening to clients, acknowledging their perspectives, and tailoring interventions to meet their unique needs. Client-centered care also requires understanding cultural food practices and preferences, and being flexible in dietary recommendations.

Cultural Humility

• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2019 December). Addressing Stigma: Towards a More Inclusive Health System. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/corporate/publications/chief-public-health-officer-reports-state-public-health-canada/addressing-stigma-toward-more-inclusive-health-system.html

“Sometimes Black students just want to be Black students.” – Eric Ng

 

Your feedback is crucial for continuous improvement and fostering an inclusive learning environment. Please take a moment to complete the anonymous feedback questionnaire, reflecting on your experiences and offering suggestions for future content and initiatives.

[Insert Anonymous Feedback Questionnaire Link]

• Black Dietitians Matter: Addressing inequities and exploring strategies for increasing Blacks in nutrition and dietetics.
  • This session training  explores the barriers Black dietitians face and strategies to increase diversity in the nutrition and dietetics field.
  • The link to this webpage often changes. To access this webcourse use the search engine on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Online Learning page.

• Body image and cultural compassion: Reimagining nutrition intervention
  • This session rethinks nutrition interventions with cultural sensitivity and compassion, addressing body image issues among diverse populations.
  • The link to this webpage often changes. To access this webcourse use the search engine on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Online Learning page.
• Conscious dietetics practice: Assessing dietetics (White) privilege and confronting racism.
  • This session addresses the manifestation of White privilege in dietetics and strategies to confront racism in the profession.
  • The link to this webpage often changes. To access this webcourse use the search engine on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Online Learning page.
• From awareness to action: Leveraging critical thinking for cultural humility development.
  • This session emphasizes the importance of cultural humility and critical thinking in inclusive nutrition and dietetics practice.
  • The link to this webpage often changes. To access this webcourse use the search engine on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Online Learning page.
• Innovative strategies to open the nutrition and dietetics education pipeline.
  • This session presents strategies to increase diversity in dietetics education by addressing barriers for underrepresented students.
  • The link to this webpage often changes. To access this webcourse use the search engine on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Online Learning page.

Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre

• Calgary Anti-Racism Education (CARED)
  • CARED provides resources and tools for anti-racist education in various fields, including dietetics.
  • Link: https://www.aclrc.com/cared

Black Food Sovereignty Toronto

• This organization works to promote food sovereignty for Black communities in Toronto, focusing on equitable access to healthy and culturally appropriate food.
• Link: https://www.bfstoronto.ca/

Black Health Education Collaborative

• Black Health Primer:A comprehensive resource on health equity for Black Canadians, addressing the social determinants of health.
• Link: https://www.bhec.ca/bhp?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaeQQHv0yvLiRz_fL983YSIKwRNOHoYjrn8rkABHKHs8iVo4R9fmm1IeUs_aem_3Op3ND9ZNBJO5it4P_fYgg

eCampus Ontario Pressbook

• Universal design for learning for inclusion, diversity, and accessibility.
  • An open-access resource focusing on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to improve inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility in education.
  • Link: https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/universaldesign/

Historica Canada

• Black history in Canada education guide: This guide provides resources, timelines, and historical content on the experiences and contributions of Black Canadians.
• Link:  https://fb.historicacanada.ca/education/english/black-history-in-canada/

National Collaboration Centre for Determinants of Health

• A resource hub for evidence-based research and tools focusing on social determinants of health and health equity in Canada.
• Link: https://learn.nccdh.ca/

Routledge Textbooks

• Teaching for diversity and social justice
  • An online textbook offering tools and strategies for teaching about diversity and social justice.
  • Link: https://routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/readingsfordiversity/teaching.php

UNILEARNAL

• A YouTube series offering educational videos on Black Canadian history, highlighting the contributions and struggles of Black communities in Canada.
• Link:https://youtu.be/b5n-4XSpl60?si=lFoHG4S95lpQt1Yf

Voice Caption Features

Videos

Cases and Reflections

Polls

Optional Feedback

• Black Lives Matter Canada
• The Canadian Human Rights Commission
• Canadian Race Relation Foundation
• Government of Canada Website
• The Black Health Alliance
• Toronto Academic Health Science Network's Introduction to Anti-Black Racism eModule
• Reading books or watching recorded lectures and interviews by a variety of Canadian and international authors and social justice advocates including but not limited to:
  • Afua Cooper
  • Angela Davis
  • Audre Lorde
  • Austin Channing Brown
  • Chinua Achebe
  • Christina Sharpe
  • Charmaine Nelson
  • Desmond Cole
  • Ibram X. Kendi
  • James Baldwin
  • Lawrence Hill
  • Lynae Vanee
  • Patrisse Cullors
  • Reni Eddo-Lodge
  • Ta-Nahisi Coastes
  • Whitney French
• You can also find articles in academic journals including the Journal of Critical Dietetics

As you navigate this Pressbook we encourage you to:

1. Approach the content with genuine curiosity and an open-mind.
2. Reflect on your own privilege and position in society: How have you have benefitted from systems of oppression?
3. Listen without judgement and seek to understand alternative viewpoints (even if you disagree), not to defend your stance.
4. Recognize that racism is a systemic issue that no one person created, but for us to be liberated as a society, we all need to partake in anti-racist work.
5. De-centre yourself from the conversation to allow equity-deserving voices to speak their truth and learn from them.
6. Acknowledge and explore personal feelings of discomfort as they arise. Use these questions like these to guide you:

• What emotions am I feeling?
• What caused them to occur?
• Why do I think this happened?
• How will I overcome them?

Once you complete this Pressbook:

Mikahelia Wellington is a registered dietitian working in the community health setting. She has a professional background in Public Health Nutrition & Dietetics and social justice.

The intersections of her personal and professional experiences and expertise have helped her recognize the critical role that stories, values, community and heritage play in improving the well-being of people and communities by challenging and re-envisioning unjust norms.

This inspired her to create Making Kitchen Legacies Inc., a business aimed to decolonize how people view their nutritional health and how nutrition professionals practice. She acknowledges that this work requires ongoing learning and action and is dedicated to the cause. Mikahelia currently offers workshops and seminars for the community and community partners and also to nutrition students, educators, and professionals.

Website: to be added soon

Email: to be added soon

Sherana Syed (she/her) Research Assistant & Project Coordinator

Emanual Tessema (he/him) Research & Project Assistant

Emanuel Tessema is a fourth-year Nutrition and Food student at Toronto Metropolitan University.

He is interested in the nutritional sciences, women’s health, and improving access to opportunities for underrepresented groups in nutrition. He is also passionate about advancing nutrition communication and improving how professionals share knowledge with vulnerable populations, so that we may all empower individuals to make well-informed choices.

Email: emanuel.tessema@torontomu.ca

Toyin Kayo-Ajayi

Founder and Executive Director of the Nigerian-Canadian, mentor, entrepreneur, farmer, music enthusiast, and a food sovereignty and agricultural activist.For over 15 years, he has been mentoring Black farmers to enter into the Canadian agriculture industry, and mentoring his community in other business ventures within Canada. After 10 years of serving his community on the grassroots level, Toyin founded the Kara-Kata Afrobeat Society of Canada Inc. In  2019, he spearheaded the Kara-Kata Africa Village Project, where he successfully experimented with growing African cultural vegetables and herbs in Canada. As part of this project, he supports research about various farming practices and innovative technology that benefit the Canadian and African agricultural industries by maximizing productivity in natural and organic growing processes.In 2022, he founded the Canadian Black Farmers Association, which advocates for and creates opportunities for African farmers in Canada.

Laurie Michael (she/her)

Laurie Micheal is from Charlottetown, PEI (Epekwitk) and is an RD and Project Coordinator at UPEI's Health Research Network. She has been working as an RD since 2008 after completing the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship program, following a Bachelor of Nutritional Sciences at UPEI. She also completed Ryerson's Food Security Certificate (2012) and a Masters in Public Health from Lakehead University (2019). Laurie has been privileged to work in a variety of practice settings in Ontario, Nova Scotia and PEI; including a family health team (FHT); inpatient/outpatient; clinical long-term care; convalescent care; clinical outpatient prenatal, postpartum and pediatrics. As a proud, mixed-race, third-generation Lebanese-Canadian, she is an active member of PEI's Livable Income Working Group and PCDA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Zoe Barnett (she/her)

Zoe Barnett is a Registered Dietitian with over a decade of experience working in community nutrition. She obtained her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph and a Master of Public Health degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Toronto. She is also a Certified Diabetes Educator and practices dietetics in both English and French. She is the co-founder and former co-chair of the Canadian Black Registered Dietitians Association. In addition to working with clients from a variety of African and Caribbean countries, she has travelled to Ethiopia, Tanzania and Jamaica to experience the countries, people and cuisines 1st hand.

Bianca Cordiero (she/her)

Bianca is a Registered Dietitian based out of Toronto and was a 2023 Canfitpro Best New Presenter award recipient. She is a master’s trained Dietitian who acquired her Bachelor's and Master's degree at the University of Guelph and is one of the co-founders of the Canadian Black Registered Dietitians Association. She has worked in a variety of different settings over the past four years of her career as a dietitian including community health, athletic care clinics, diabetes and weight management clinics, and virtual care clinics, servicing a diverse population of clients.

The Canadian Black Registered Dietitians Association (CBRDA) is an organization of self-identified Black Registered Dietitians and dietetic students working or studying in Canada.  It was created in late 2020 with a mission to provide opportunities to Black RDs and dietetic students to improve their ability to better serve Black people in Canada and, to advocate for better representation within the field of dietetics through networking opportunities, training, education and experiences. To date, we have created a virtual cookbook, attended Black community health events in the GTA and hosted both virtual and in-person networking events for members. The vision of CBRDA is to improve Black representation within dietetics, support Black dietitians already in the profession, and better serve Black communities & Black people living in Canada.

Email: info.blackRD@gmail.com

Savannah Black (she/her)

Savannah is a Registered Dietitian, research associate, and educator working in a variety of clinical and non-clinical areas. Her educational background is in nutrition, dietetics, and public health. Previous positions include working at Diabetes Canada as a healthcare navigation specialist for patients, providers, and industry professionals. From this experience, she continued to share diabetes knowledge in a dietitian role working at the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority Diabetes Centre in 2020. Savannah currently works as a Patient Research Liaison with the KITE team at Toronto Rehab Institute and teaches at Toronto Fanshawe@ILAC for gerontology, nutrition, and mentorship courses. Her business (Dietetics Mentorship Program) offers mentoring and 1:1 support for nutrition students and advocates to improve training for future dietitians.

Website: www.dieteticsmentorshipprogram.ca

Instagram: @dieteticsmentorshiprogram

Email: savannah@dieteticsmentorshipprogram.ca

Sheldomar Elliott (he/him)

Co-Chair, Toronto Youth Food Policy Council and an Urban Farmer

With years of experience in food justice work and a background in community support roles, Sheldomar brings an anti-oppressive and community-centred lens into all of the work he is involved in. Currently an urban farmer, he is passionate about food justice work that tackles issues around food insecurity and achieving food sovereignty for marginalized communities. As one of the TYFPC’s co-chairs, he’s worked to spotlight different youth voices across Toronto and amplify the work that youth play in the movement towards juster, food systems. He also co-organized Soul Food Project TO: Community Cookbook as a means of hearing from Black youth in Toronto about the recipes, food stories, and discussions about the importance that food has in comforting us during difficult times. He continues to learn from community members, elders, and others the significance of the work which informs his positionality. He hopes to support the continued movement of equitable, and sustainable food systems to exist in and beyond the City of Toronto.

Email: sheldomarelliott12344@gmail.com

Kishon Warmington

My name is Kishon Warmington and I am a full-time first-generation Black farmer in Canada.

I own Back to Roots Farm LTD., a small, family-run farm situated on 76 acres on Treaty One Territory in Manitoba. We are rooted in the belief in regenerative agriculture, a legacy that began with our great-grandparents in Jamaica. As a sustainable business, we strive to provide nutrient-rich, ethically sourced and appropriate food to health-conscious and culturally diversified communities, empowering and making them conscientious about their food choices. We are a diversified farm that markets directly to consumers.

I am also a member and vice president of BIPOC Caucus. We are a supportive community working together to offer peer-to-peer support, and knowledge-sharing opportunities, develop deep connections, and dismantle barriers to entry and success in farming, as we work towards an equitable food system.

Email: info@backtorootsfarm.ca

Dr. Semone Myrie

Dr. Semone Myrie is a researcher and associate professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences

 at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. Myrie's interests are in the areas of nutrition and developmental origins of adult diseases and nutrition and Inherited metabolic diseases, more specifically: The role of early neonatal nutrition impact on the metabolic system during early development and into adulthood, Inherited metabolic diseases, nutrient absorption and bioavailability, particularly amino acids.

Phone: 204-474-7290 Email: semone.myrie@umanitoba.ca

Maude Perreault RD PhD (she/elle)

Maude Perreault is a white settler, currently working in Tiohtià:ke. She is a registered dietitian, an assistant professor at the Université de Montréal and a researcher at the Centre Jean-Jacques-Gauthier, CIUSSS Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal. Her research interests are centered around professional practice in dietetics, specifically how to diversify the profession, disrupt racism, and better support dietetics students to envision a socially just practice.

Email: maude.perreault@umontreal.ca

Website: https://maudeperreaultnutrition.com/

Dr. Natalie Riediger (she/her)

Dr. Natalie Riediger is a settler researcher and Associate Professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba. She is a CIHR Early Career Investigator Award recipient and has received research funding from CIHR, the Canadian Celiac Association, SSHRC, Universities Canada, Mitacs, and the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research. Dr. Riediger completed her PhD research in partnership with Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation and in the Department of Community Health Sciences also at the University of Manitoba, earning the Governor General’s Gold Medal in 2015. In 2021, she received the Terry G. Falconer Emerging Researcher Rh Award for Outstanding Contributions to scholarship and research in the Interdisciplinary category for her early career research in the area of food and health equity. Dr. Riediger is a mixed-methodologist who works closely with Indigenous communities and researchers in a variety of disciplines, including sociology, gender studies, law, nursing, economics, and psychology. She also has an interest in equity and diversity within the fields of nutrition and dietetics, and post-secondary education.

Email: natalie.riediger@umanitoba.ca

Eric Ng (he/him/his)

Jennifer Brady (she/her)

Jennifer Brady PhD, RD is a white settler and an Associate Professor in Women's and Gender Studies and the School of Nutrition and Dietetics at Acadia University. Her research focuses on health profession(al)s' roles in socially just practice and advocacy, racism in dietetics, and cultural food security.

Phone: 902-585-1351

Email: jennifer.brady@acadiau.ca

Alexandrea Harris-Saunders (she/her)

Karrianne Edwards (sher/her)

Karrianne is a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario with over 14 years of experience in the Mental Health sector. She works with youth, adults, and seniors to support mental health counselling for individuals experiencing depression, trauma, grief, anxiety, and personality disorders. She is passionate about empowering equity-deserving communities. This is reflected in her Anti-Drug and Anti-Violence work within the Black and marginalized communities in Scarborough, Ontario and her advocacy work to bring awareness to Human Trafficking amongst the Black and marginalized communities.  Karrianne also develops and facilitates therapeutic programs to foster connected families, stronger parental bonds, caregiver support workshops and youth mental health seminars. Her therapeutic focus is rooted in trauma recovery, addictions, and youth mental health. Karrianne provides a non-judgmental, supportive and a client-focused approach to therapy that enhances the self-care section of this Pressbook.

Nicole Austin

Kafi Ealey

Kafi Ealey is an assistant professor in the School of Nutrition at Toronto Metropolitan University. After obtaining her BSc in biochemistry from McMaster University, Kafi went on to complete her MSc and PhD degrees in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. Kafi has extensive research experience in adipose tissue biology and is passionate about understanding the impact of nutritional interventions in regulating fat expansion and chronic metabolic diseases. Her research is focused on identifying biological mechanisms underlying ethnic and racial disparities in the prevalence of metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. Apart from her passion for scientific research and teaching, Kafi enjoys fitness, reading, a good cup of coffee, playing board games and travel.

Tameika Shaw

Joie Shaw (she/her)

Fatoumata Binta Balde (elle/she)

Amirah Oyesegun

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