Mission:
Blue Sky Minds supports the growth of an equitable, sustainable, and economically thriving food system for everyone in the Okanogan region in Washington, through facilitating gatherings, listening, collaborations, partnerships, strategy, education, and outreach that’s created by the community for the community.
Blue Sky Mind’s Vision:
We hold the vision to end hunger, create a resilient local food economy, heal our land and waters, support farmers to make a sustainable living, and to ensure that every single person has close access to culturally relevant, locally grown nutritious food in the Okanogan region.
History and Background:
Blue Sky Minds is a 501c3 non-profit organization created in 2022. Blue Sky Minds is a one-of-a-kind organization working specifically on the region's food system that is driven by the community, for the community. Blue Sky Minds supports the growth of an equitable, sustainable, and economically thriving food system for everyone in the Okanogan region in Washington, through facilitating gatherings, listening, collaborations, partnerships, strategy, providing resources, education, and outreach.
The geographic focus is the Okanogan region in Washington State which includes Okanogan County and Colville Reservation. We’re in service to all stakeholders within our community and collaborate with our region's food-related business owners, local agencies, government, academia, food banks, farmers, ranchers, the land, air, and waterways.
Our rural, distressed, agriculturally rich region is working to solve local food system challenges such as hunger, food system infrastructures, small food-related business growth, food sovereignty, food equity, reduction and reuse of food waste, and sustainable practices. We inclusively listen and strive to understand the problems we work to solve. Together, we identify who, what, and how our community will be impacted before embarking on action steps to deliver long-lasting positive outcomes for everyone. We hold the vision to end hunger, have a resilient local food economy, replenish natural resources, and to ensure that everyone has access to locally grown healthy food in the Okanogan region.
Acknowledgments to the Colville Reservations Twelve Tribes
With the desire to build deep, long term relationships of mutual trust and respect, we humbly acknowledge the unfathomable atrocities that have occurred to the peoples and ancestral lands of the twelve tribes which include Moses-Columbia, San Poil, Nespelem, Methow, Entiat, Colville, Arrow Lakes, Wenatchi, Chief Joseph Band of Nez Perce, Palus, Okanogan, and Chelan.
May we give thanks and honor the Elders of past, present and future generations who steward these lands and waters which nourish the people. We’re committed to listening, continuously learning and supporting a local food system that culturally reflects and values the wisdom and priorities of the Indigenous peoples in this region.
What is the origin of the word “Okanogan”?
Have you ever wondered about the meaning of the word Okanogan? Although there is no definitive answer, the word refers to the people who spoke Nsylixcn and lived in a region spanning from Wenatchee to Vernon, Revelstoke to the Kettle River, and the Cascade Mountains to the Kettle Falls. The Okanagan People have their own creation stories, and one interpretation of the word is derived from 'ukna?quin,' which means 'I bring to the top.' Another interpretation suggests that the word comes from 'wakna?quin,' meaning 'place to see the head/mountains.' This could refer to the prominent bluffs that resemble human heads in profile, such as McIntyre Bluff and Giants Head, in the valley. To define a single word of the Nsyilxcn (Okanagan) language is not easy, but I hope this helps you understand something you hear every day.
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