Final Round Of Funding For Indigenous Food Security And Sovereignty Program

Another round of funding is set to open as more than 100 Indigenous-led projects are underway throughout B.C., helping to strengthen local food security and food sovereignty.

“Working alongside Indigenous partners is crucial to growing and maintaining our province’s food systems and part of our government’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation,” said Harwinder Sandhu, parliamentary secretary for agriculture.

“These Indigenous-led projects highlight how Indigenous knowledge supports increasing local food supply and food security, especially in rural and remote communities.”

In 2023, the New Relationship Trust launched the $30-million Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program, which supports both on-reserve and off-reserve projects, such as revitalizing food harvesting and Indigenous agro-ecosystems, expanding production capacity, boosting local food processing and distribution, and growing commercial value-added enterprises.

Among the projects underway on Vancouver Island, Jared “Qwustenuxun” Williams, a Salish educator and traditional-foods chef who previously managed the Elders Kitchen in Cowichan Tribes, is upgrading a smokehouse into a commercial-quality kitchen that blends ancient preservation methods with modern food-safety standards.

“Building the smokehouse has taken more time than I first expected, but that time has allowed me to really think about how to bring together traditional methods and new ideas,” said Williams.

“I’m creating a modern version of the smokehouse that’s still rooted in our teachings, something that reflects both where we come from and where we’re going. I’m grateful for the support that came with patience and trust, because meaningful work doesn’t always follow a set timeline.”

The New Relationship Trust, an independent, Indigenous-led non-profit organization, administers the program and works with Indigenous entrepreneurs, communities and businesses to identify and respond to their needs and empower them.

Applications opened earlier this week for the third and final round of $10-million funding.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.