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On Discomfort from Gemma Fitzpatrick #ManaKai
Posted by —
eatnewzealand
Published —
04.02.2022
ON DISCOMFORT
As an anxious, procrastinating, perfectionist the list of things that bring me discomfort is not short. Strangers, deadlines, unprompted phone calls, the list goes on.
However, as an immigrant, I know that in coming to Aotearoa, and calling this new country home, I have to sit in feelings of discomfort. I have the privilege of being able to learn from and embrace a new culture, and if anything about it makes me uncomfortable, that’s on me.
So to the point. As a member of the @eat.newzealand Kaitaki I was given a chance to reflect on the proposed Mana Kai Framework.
The framework has 3 main areas - Mana o te Whenua, Mana Kai & Mana o te Tangata, each with 3 sub-pillars.
On first reflection, it made me uncomfortable. That’s on me.
It’s on me to learn all the words I don’t know, learn their meaning and their impact. As someone who wants to be a part of our Aotearoa food future, that’s on me.
And I will, I’ll practice the sounds and hold space for those with more knowledge than I to share these concepts. But I couldn’t help think, will every immigrant? I have the privilege of time, and of being part of a group that make me uncomfortable. But so much of our food system is powered by people working hard, day in and day out, to scrape together a living, whose first language is not always even English. If we don’t make this framework accessible to ALL those who empower it, will it work?
I have also reflected that my feeling so distanced from my heritage and culture, may mean that I’m projecting this estrangement onto others who may inherently understand these concepts. I don’t have the words, but others might. This space is for them.
•••
heirloom tomatoes
they’re a seasonal delight
a thing of beauty
•••
