Food Is My Teacher
VFR: Dr. Soma, you’re an Assistant Professor at the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and Research Director of the Food Systems Lab. Your recent documentary, Food is My Teacher, is your first foray into the world of filmmaking. What inspired you to explore this medium as a way to both learn and impart knowledge?
Dr. Tammara Soma: I’m originally from the tropical archipelago of Indonesia, a mom of three, and a professor of food systems planning, and I’ve dedicated my life and heart to developing a more equitable and sustainable food system for all in Canada and beyond.
As a lifelong learner and educator, I wanted to go beyond the classroom and showcase for a wider audience how food can heal communities and one’s body and spirit. Through this film, Food is My Teacher, I even examined my own relationship with food, including my harrowing experience dealing with an eating disorder.
The central idea of Food is My Teacher is that food is medicine, but not just in the way that it feeds our bodies, providing nutrients and calories. Food is more than that: it connects people to the land and waterways, to their cultures, and to each other.
Thankfully, I was able to go on this transformative journey with Brandy Yanchyk, an award-winning filmmaker who co-wrote, co-directed, and produced Food is My Teacher. Brandy provided invaluable guidance and knowledge throughout the entire documentary process. Together, we travelled across Alberta and British Columbia on a quest to learn more about how food is healing different communities.
VFR: Through the process of making the Food is My Teacher, you meet with various people to learn more about the power of food to heal and connect. Please share about your teachers during this project.
TS: Brandy and I had the privilege and honour to learn from many extraordinary individuals throughout the creation of this film, including following individuals in British Columbia:
In Vancouver, we had the good fortune to connect with hua foundation members Christina Lee and Gillian Der to buy traditional ingredients at a Chinese dry goods store. As we cooked a Chinese soup together, we chatted about how youth are reconnecting with their Asian identity through food; and we discussed how the hua foundation’s mission is to strengthen capacity among Asian diasporic youth, in solidarity with other communities, to challenge, change, and create systems for a more equitable and just future.
We met with Indigenous ethnobotanists T’uy‘t’tanat-Cease Wyss and Senaqwila Wyss, a mother and daughter team, who shared their Skwxwú7mesh cultural teachings. We were also able to visit T’uy’t’tanat-Cease Wyss at the community garden she helps to coordinate called “Harmony Garden” in Humulch’sen (Capilano Reserve). The Harmony Garden is designed to help their Indigenous community to heal from the intergenerational harm of residential schools and to promote biodiversity and traditional medicines.
We also had the chance to catch up with Sikh food leader Manjit Thandi in Vancouver, an experience that really taught me how food truly brings people together. With Manjit, we visited a Gurdwara called Khalsa Diwan Society Sikh Temple to participate in a Langar (community kitchen). At the temple, we got to speak with Head Granthi, Gyani Harminder Pal Singh, about the importance of food equity.
The entire experience of making this film was eye-opening and deeply meaningful for me – and delicious!
VFR: What surprised you during this filming process? And how did it enrich and deepen your understanding of food?
TS: Making the documentary itself was a process of healing. As an academic, I’m so used to writing journal articles and research reports to show my love and passion for food. Thanks to Brandy’s mentorship, I now have a new tool in my toolbox to ensure that important food concepts and issues can be made more accessible for the public.
VFR: Where can everyone check out Food is My Teacher?
TS: Food is My Teacher is now available to stream on CBC Gem. Check it out HERE!
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