Indigenous food systems and agriculture

Indigenous food systems are diverse across British Columbia and have a foundational and interconnected role in providing for cultural, social, environmental and economic well-being.

The province works to support Indigenous communities and peoples to meet their food security, food sovereignty and economic development goals and increase equitable participation in the agriculture and food sectors.

Indigenous Food Security and Food Sovereignty Program

The ministry is working with New Relationship Trust on their delivery of the Indigenous Food Security and Food Sovereignty Program. The Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty (IFS) Grant provides non-repayable funding contributions to First Nation communities, Indigenous organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs in British Columbia that want to participate in and receive financial supports to develop, expand, or strengthen their Indigenous food systems and innovation to enhance sustainability and growth of the Indigenous agriculture and food sovereignty.

The Indigenous Food Security and Food Sovereignty program supports more sustainable food production, community food security, traditional food practices and enhances participation in the agriculture and food sectors for Indigenous communities and businesses.

Visit New Relationship Trust’s Program Webpage here for more information and to apply.

Achievement and resilience in Indigenous food and agriculture

The following videos showcase a few examples of innovative approaches to farming and food security undertaken by Indigenous communities across the province, highlighting the work of Lytton and Tsawwassen First Nations, and the Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food (IACAF).

 

IACAF and the province collaborate to enhance the equitable participation of Indigenous Peoples in the B.C. agriculture and food sectors and support their food sovereignty objectives 

C’eliselem is a community-led garden located within the Treaty lands of the Tsawwassen First Nation. The farm supports the community's food sovereignty and security goals while contributing to the Nation's cultural revitalization 

YeKm Food Hub is an agricultural resource for LFN, supporting local farmers and the LFN community. The project includes a greenhouse and garden, with plans to expand to a storage, processing, and preservation facility that will feature a retail outlet and become a hub for the community.