CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

World Food Summit

June 10 – 13

Rome, Italy

INTERVENTION ON FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND FOOD SECURITY

Thank you Madam Chairperson. My name is Shawna Larson and I am here representing Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Indigenous Environmental Network and my Tribe of Chickaloon from Alaska.

I would like to mention briefly Food Sovereignty and Food Security issues that effect us in the Arctic. First I would like to offer my heart felt concern to those in this world that go without food. This is not the case in Alaska. The concerns I bring to you are about the toxic contaminants that are in our traditional and non-traditional food systems in Alaska and for that matter through out the world. PCB’s, Dioxin and other pesticides are all found not only in our food web but also in ourselves and as a pregnant mother I would like to remind you that human breast milk is now the most contaminated food on the planet.

As indigenous peoples that rely heavily on wild foods to sustain us we turn to our elders in times like these, we turn to our elders for advise. Our elders tell us they never used to see tumors and puss sacks in things like caribou, moose and fish like we are seeing today. Some of us are afraid to eat the very foods that have sustained us since the beginning of time. We are concerned not only about the toxic chemicals that come to us by the wind and the water currents from all over the world but we are also concerned about the contaminations that is left behind by the military. In Alaska we have over half of the nations formerly used defense sites and the remnants contaminate our land and water sources.

Everywhere we look there is cancer – not only in our people but also now in our animals. I hope to hand down the traditions that were passed on to me. Without our cultural and traditional foods, we as indigenous peoples are left with nothing – we are indeed impoverished. Losing our traditional foods pushes us to less health store bought foods that are often too expensive for peoples with little economic opportunities in rural areas. Not only are they less healthy choice but we know that store bought foods are also contaminated. These toxic chemicals don’t recognize borders and boundaries they are everywhere.

I have seen the Food and Agricultural Organizations logos everywhere since I have arrived here in Rome and it is followed by the words “Food For All”. I have come here today not only on behalf of my tribe but also on behalf of my unborn child to as governments not just “Food For All” but for health, safe, contaminant free food for all.

Thank you