Ebb and Flow food bank is a labour of love

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This article was published 05/09/2022 (840 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Charlie Houle and wife Suzette Spence expressed the desire to launch a food bank in their home community of Ebb and Flow First Nation, some thought they were foolish.

“Someone actually said, ‘Let me get this straight here: you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart?’” Houle said. “I think I even put that quote in one of our proposals.”

After retiring from 17 years in the military, Houle decided to go back home and be closer to his mother. He also brought a fierce desire to better his community.

“No one should go hungry,” Houle said. “Coming out of the (COVID-19) pandemic, it just seems everyone lost their way to be sufficient.”

In February, Spence and Houle became increasingly aware of the challenges faced by members of Ebb and Flow. The nearest food bank in Dauphin had recently barred non-residents from accessing it. Inflation was beginning to creep up. The cost of living was skyrocketing — and those already struggling were starting to fall deeper into the cracks.

“Ebb and Flow has around 1,800 (members). They have 1,000 off-reserve, and then I believe we’re dealing with around 500 that are on EIA,” Spence said. “I spoke with chief and council, and they all told me that everybody’s struggling.”

In late September, Spence, Houle and their niece and nephew will open the First Nation’s first community food bank.

The project was made possible by a $50,000 grant, which helped them purchase a small cabin trailer to store the food.

“We’re doing this all on our own, just the four of us. We’re doing it with or without the support of the reserve,” Spence said. “There’s nowhere for them to go, so this is what we’re doing.”

While preparing for opening day, they’ve spent plenty of time dreaming up other ways to help the community. A local meat processing facility could soon be made possible by a donation of unused huts by a nearby school. Next summer, they envision planting seeds in a community garden to bring in a harvest of fresh goods.

“On the side of a reconciliation piece, we’re going to try to bring an elder here with us,” Houle said. “We’re going to try to give her more than what she already has to educate more people on our traditions.”

Additionally, the pair have been in touch with SEED Winnipeg to facilitate free money-management courses for people in the community — courses they hope will help achieve even more independence.

It’s a lot to take on, but Houle and Spence believe the food bank will not only feed hungry stomachs but build food sovereignty in the community.

“We’re hoping that with this food bank, it’ll help people to be able to make their own traditional foods, whether that be deer, fish, moose, elk,” Spence said. “Our goal is to have everything on the reserve where nobody has to leave.”

With a meat processing facility and community garden in their back pocket, that vision could soon become a reality. Although they’re handling most of the responsibilities as a family, nearby businesses have shown up with donations of building supplies.

Knowing members of other First Nations in Manitoba experience ongoing and significant food insecurity, Spence and Houle hope to expand their reach.

“We want to help surrounding communities get off their feet and possibly have a food bank in their reserve, as well,” Spence said.

As they add the finishing touches to the food bank’s home base, Houle and Spence reflect on a time not all that long ago when they were told it was futile to believe they could pull off this feat on their own.

It won’t be long until empty shelves are stocked and dreaming will have paid off.

cierra.bettens@freepress.mb.ca