Food Fellowship

Years ago, Sue moved to Fort McPherson, NWT.  The community consisted of between 600 and 700 people. A location of extreme isolation and far North proved to be a rewarding and challenging community for Sue to integrate into. It was hard for Sue to get to know people.  Coming from Toronto, Sue had no experience with the North. She hadn’t even packed winter boots nor a winter jacket.

 

Very quickly, Sue realized that the local gathering point was not the church but the local school. Instead of waiting for people to come to her Sue approached the school to teach cooking classes. Shortly after arrival, she began teaching twice a week.

 

One Sunday evening the community suffered a suicide of a student. This was Sue’s first funeral in the community.  Comfort and grieving was needed but Sue realized that the community was not going to the church but to the school.  School was a safe place.  So students went to school regardless of the news.  Sue went to her cooking class and began working side by side with all the students – they made spaghetti.  The food was dished out to all. Then one student brook the silence, “If you killed yourself would you go to hell?”  This started the conversation.  Students listened and cared for each other while they ate. It became a space that was safe to ask questions. A blessing was said and the table became a holy place -everything sacred.

 

After three years in the north, Sue moved back south to call Edmonton her home.  Now an Anglican Chaplin at the University of Alberta. Sue learned a lot up North.  Once she arrived in Edmonton, her first priority was to buy a huge dining table. The 12-14 person table was to be full lots.  Sue had an open invitation to students to join her for dinner. Conversations around the table changed the way the students thought of things. People eat differently when they are with people they don't traditionally eat with. It is an opportunity to share with each other. Eating together is a mark of unity. Social barriers break down. People learn about each other.  Sue shared that some international students are very lonely and having a meal together creates belonging, friendship and fills the empty place.

 

Sue’s table was always full but she had to ask “Who is not here at the table and who can we invite to the table?” Moving forward, once a month, everyone gathers at St. Faiths to serve food for a Friday night soup kitchen.  Between 75-110 people are served once a month. But not just to serve, everyone is also encouraged to eat alongside the people. A community has been born through this relationship.