Community Kitchen: More than ‘Fusion’
Community Kitchen: More than ‘Fusion’
JAMAICAN FOOD AS A LIVING ARCHIVE
Date & Time
Wednesday, October 28
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM PDT
Location
Featured Image: Mekeil Wilson | Pleasure Cove Beach, Ocho Rios, Jamaica
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us in exploring Jamaican cuisine as a living archive of history, culture, and memory!
Are you curious about the rich histories behind the dishes on your plate? Food is not only a source of comfort and nourishment, but a living archive of community and heritage that is often overlooked or forgotten.
This community kitchen invites participants to explore Jamaica’s motto, “Out of Many, One People,” by considering how the transatlantic slave trade, British colonialism, indentureship, and migration shaped Jamaican foodways. Come learn and celebrate agency, creativity, and cultural survival of Jamaican cuisine that transformed these complex histories into vibrant culinary traditions!
The selected menu* highlights West African, Indian, and Chinese influences in Jamaican cuisine.
We’ll be making:
- Curry goat
- Chinese fried rice
- Plantains
*Please let us know of any dietary restrictions and/or food allergies in the registration form ahead of the event. We strive to accommodate participants’ dietary needs to the best of our ability, but please note that no recipe adjustments will be made to any of the menu items. Thank you for your understanding.
AGENDA
- Introductions and Housekeeping
- Activities
- Eating and Discussion
- Wrap-up and Clean-up
Whether you’re a seasoned chef or new to the kitchen, all are welcome!
See you there!✨
Land Acknowledgement
This event takes place on the unceded homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛw̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Nations.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Mekeil Wilson (she/her)
Meet Mekeil
Mekeil is a fourth-year Sociology student with a passion for food and food justice. Her interest in food justice is rooted in her childhood in Jamaica, where visits with her grandfather, a farmer, shaped her early understanding of food, agriculture, and community. These experiences also exposed her to the challenges facing local food systems, including the growing reliance on imported goods and its relationship to food insecurity. Through her studies in Sociology and interest in history, Mekeil has continued to explore the intersections of food justice, sustainability, and climate equity. This work has also encouraged Mekeil to reflect more deeply on her own culture and the histories, influences, and heritage carried through Jamaican food.
Event Accessibility
Embark Sustainability events are free and open to Embark Sustainability members which includes Simon Fraser University undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Embark Sustainability Associate Members.
This event will be held indoors at the SUB Community Kitchen, room #2125 of the Student Union Building (SUB), SFU Burnaby. Accessibility details include:
- Attendees are free to opt in and opt out of activities as suits their needs throughout the event, including exiting and re-entering the event space.
- Some appliances and counter areas of this room are not accessible when using a wheelchair or other mobility aids. The dining/lounge area is accessible when using a wheelchair or other mobility aids.
- We aim to host a scent-free space. Please refrain from wearing scented products in attendance of this event.
- Unfortunately, we cannot provide ASL interpretation at this time. We will be providing written recipe instructions.
We aim to make our events accessible to as many of our community members as possible. If we can take further action to make this event accessible to you, please contact Embark Sustainability’s Director of Engagement at engagement@embarksustainability.org.
Health & Safety
Participants who register are agreeing to release Embark Sustainability Society from any liability related to COVID-19. Masks are optional but encouraged.
Community Agreement
By registering to attend this event, you are agreeing to be respectful when listening to and communicating with others, and be mindful of the space you are taking up amongst your peers.
Embark Sustainability does not tolerate violence or aggression against others on the basis of race, ethnicity, place of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or ability. Please also refer to people using the introductions they provide and do not assume pronouns/gender/knowledge based on someone’s name or appearance.
If these agreements are broken by someone, we will have to ensure the safety of our community members by removing them from the event.
Questions
If you have any questions about this event, please contact our Food Justice Programs Coordinator at food@embarksustainability.org.