Mek Mek Mania keeps cooking virtually

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals staff writer

Like pretty much everything else in 2020, a popular Tribal food and culture event moved to an online format this year.

mek mek Mania, which highlights and celebrates food services and resources in the Grand Ronde and West Valley communities, was held via the video conferencing app Zoom on Thursday, Dec. 17.

mek mek Mania is typically held in early fall, but was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is co-sponsored by the Grand Ronde Food Bank (iskam mek mek haws) and Marion-Polk Food Share.

The virtual event featured different speakers, recipes and presentations by Marion-Polk Food Share, the Oregon State University Extension Service, Food Hero, Master Gardeners, Master Food Preservers and 4-H programs, as well as Tribal Youth Empowerment & Prevention and the Natural Resources Department Native Plant Propagation program.

Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier hosted the event, which has been held four times in the Tribal gym and averaged 80 to 100 people in attendance. Food-related vendors and service providers set up informational tables, conduct cooking demonstrations and provide food to attendees.

“We’ve been hosting events like these and having community conversations regularly,” Mercier said. “This normally is held at our gym, and our goal is to raise awareness of food issues and food access. What I have learned is I didn’t know the depth of the resources that are available. Some of the people who have come to us, I had no idea of what they did or the services they offered.”

One of the pre-recorded videos featured Youth Prevention Coordinator and Youth Council Adviser Shannon Stanton and Native Connections Coordinator Amber Mercier discussing a new Tribal Youth Empowerment and Prevention program, “Cooking with Shannon.” They also hosted a cooking demonstration of Three Sisters Stew.

At the conclusion of the online event, Mercier thanked participants and attendees.

“I know it’s not the same as having it in the gym and with all of the tables, but this was our attempt to make up for it,” he said.

Several food- and cooking-related raffle prize drawings were given away during the event. To view the video of the event in its entirety, visit youtube/q6KueqaSU4A.