A Drum in One Hand, a Sockeye in the Other: Stories of Indigenous Food Sovereignty from the Northwest Coast

Charlotte Coté's book, A Drum in One Hand, a Sockeye in the Other, is a 2023 Donald L. Fixico Award winner for its innovative approach to American Indian and Canadian First Nations History. It highlights the importance of Indigenous food in cultural revitalization and healing, emphasizing the Tseshaht community's efforts to reclaim their ancestral knowledge and decolonize their diet. Coté's work showcases how everyday acts of food sovereignty can nurture health and wellness, particularly in the face of food insecurity and environmental degradation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 18 February 2022
Publisher: University of Washington Press

The Somass River (c̓uumaʕas) flows into the Nuu-chah-nulth community of Tseshaht on the west coast of Vancouver Island, carrying sockeye salmon (miʕaat) into their midst. C̓uumaʕas and miʕaat hold immense significance in the sacred food practices that have been integral to the Indigenous community's pursuit of food sovereignty, decolonization of their diet, and preservation of their ancestral knowledge.

In her book, A Drum in One Hand, a Sockeye in the Other, Charlotte Coté explores contemporary Nuu-chah-nulth practices of traditional food revitalization within the broader context of re-Indigenizing contemporary diets on the Northwest Coast. Coté weaves evocative narratives about her Tseshaht community and her own endeavors to revitalize relationships with haʔum (traditional food) as a means to nurture health and well-being.

Given the ongoing disparities in food security faced by Indigenous peoples as a result of systemic inequality, environmental degradation, and the Westernization of traditional diets, Coté underscores the importance of healing and cultural sustenance through everyday acts of food sovereignty. These acts include berry picking, salmon fishing, and the establishment of a community garden on reclaimed lands once occupied by residential schools.

This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the profound role that food plays in physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. It serves as a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of Indigenous communities as they work to reclaim their ancestral connections to food and forge a more sustainable and equitable future.

Weight: 326g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295749525