The Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced July 27 the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Program has been created to support more sustainable food production, community food security, and enhance participation in the agriculture and food sectors for Indigenous communities and businesses.

Funding will support infrastructure such as greenhouses, irrigation systems, community gardens and food storage.

Funding is also available to support a range of activities, such as boosting Indigenous-owned food and agriculture operations, community food security planning and projects, and climate change adaptation projects.

“Indigenous food sovereignty is important to the health of Indigenous Peoples and the province as a whole,” said Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “By strengthening traditional Indigenous food systems, we are building a more resilient and equitable food ecosystem and reducing barriers so communities can have access to a more sustainable, secure and affordable food supply now and for future generations.”

“We acknowledge the Province’s commitment to indigenous food sovereignty,” said Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc. “Raising and collecting food in a sustainable manner has always been extremely important to First Nations people. Our ancestors had a complex and well-developed system of gathering and preserving. Building capacity around food sovereignty will support the well-being of our community and with the impacts of climate change, it is critical to have sufficient access to local, quality food.”

The new $30-million program will help Indigenous communities build and strengthen distinct local food systems, including the revitalization of traditional production, harvest and preservation practices, the ministry said.

The use of traditional knowledge will support Indigenous farming in a changing climate, while offering more equitable participation in B.C.’s agriculture economy and reducing the disproportionate amount of food insecurity within Indigenous communities.

The program will be delivered by the New Relationship Trust (NRT), an independent non-profit dedicated to empowering First Nations communities.

“As an Indigenous-led organization, NRT has designed this program to be flexible and responsive to applicants’ unique needs and priorities-to support Indigenous food sovereignty and food security goals while respecting distinct approaches to traditional food harvesting, processing and production,” said Wade Grant, chair of the board of directors, New Relationship Trust.

“This collaborative model will empower Indigenous Peoples to fully participate in B.C.’s food and agriculture economy in a way that honours their continued stewardship of the interconnected food, land and water systems on which they depend.”

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