A $1 million investment through United Way British Columbia (United Way BC)’s Large Food Infrastructure Grant, in partnership with the Government of British Columbia through the Ministry of Social Development & Poverty Reduction, will support the Kwakiutl First Nation in strengthening food security and Indigenous food sovereignty in Tsaxis and across Northern Vancouver Island.
The Kwakiutl First Nation is a proud and resilient community rooted in rich traditions and cultural heritage that spans thousands of years. Located on the northeastern tip of Vancouver Island, their people have continued to thrive along the rugged coastlines, surrounded by the bountiful waters of the Pacific Ocean
The new Kwakiutl Food Hub will now help to increase access to traditional and local foods, reduce reliance on external sources, and foster economic development. It aims to address key challenges in rural and remote North Island communities including:
• Limited access to nutritious, culturally preferred, and locally sourced foods
• Lack of infrastructure for food storage, processing, and distribution
• Food supply chain disruptions
• Disruptions to traditional foodways due to colonization, industrialization, and environmental degradation in Kwakiutl territory.
The Kwakiutl Food Hub will tackle these challenges by providing a centralized space for food security initiatives, food business development, and traditional food education. It will also preserve Kwakiutl traditions, support Indigenous-owned food enterprises, and coordinate food distribution for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities while promoting community health through meal programs and nutrition education.
This project is supported by the $14 million Critical Food Infrastructure Fund (CFIF), announced by the Government of BC in September 2023, spanning three years and administered by United Way British Columbia. The CFIF supports community food infrastructure projects by providing grants to increase capacity to offer nutritious and culturally preferred food to people who need it.
“The Kwakiutl First Nation is looking forward to creating a community-centred Food Hub building that will be dedicated to increasing food sovereignty for the Nation and enhancing food security for the region," said Kwakiutl Health Director Caitlin Hartnett. "Kwakiutl have continued to practice their foodways since time immemorial; this new food hub will enable the Kwakiutl community to host and share the important teachings and values that these foodways foster with community members and guests more often and increase access to healthy traditional and introduced foods."
Hartnett added The Hub will also provide "space for food security partners in the region to learn, share, and connect with each other and community to grow skills, regional food initiatives, and programming. Working with and sharing foods together promotes wellness for all; we are grateful to begin this project that centers collective wellness and reflects the Kwakiutl values of A’ax̱silap̓a (Taking Care of One Another) Iktsakwan’s (Generosity), and Awi’nakola (We Are One With The Land, Sea, Sky).”
“The Kwakiutl Food Hub is a powerful step toward food sovereignty, economic empowerment, and long-term food security for Indigenous communities on the North Island," said Alžběta Sabová, director, food security, United Way British Columbia. "By revitalizing traditional food knowledge, supporting local food producers, and expanding access to healthy, locally sourced food, this initiative will create lasting impact. United Way BC is proud to partner in this work, ensuring that communities have the infrastructure and resources they need to build a resilient, sustainable food system.”
Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, noted we all want people to have access to nutritious food, "so we’re taking more action to help people withstand the impacts of the trade war and global inflation. That’s why on top of hundreds of other projects, we’ve funded new critical infrastructure that helps people access fresh food on Northern Vancouver Island and throughout the province.”
