By Paul DeCampo
The Slow Food Toronto community assembled on Saturday, June 18th, to learn about local and global fishing communities, and celebrate our relationship with an inspiring family of First Nations fishers.
We were hosted by good food culture allies The Stop at Artscape Wychwood Barns, where Natasha and Andrew Akiwenzie sell the fish they catch and process from Georgian Bay every Saturday, weather permitting. It was valuable to gain a deeper understanding of the social, environmental and economic challenges they experience in maintaining a viable enterprise on the traditional lands and waters of the Neyaashiinigmiing.
Dan Donovan of Hooked and Slow Fish provided global context, including how fishing resources which were once a commons controlled by fishing communities, have been become privatized and commoditized. And to remind us why we care so much about the communities that provide our sustenance, some mindful chefs volunteered to prepared delicious Georgian Bay fish dishes for the guests to share. Thanks to Justin Cournoyer of Actinolite, Kyle Rindinella of Pizzeria Libretto and Chris Schroer of the late, lamented The Cure.