Worldwide, Indigenous people are the most vulnerable to food insecurity, malnutrition and chronic diseases (Kuhnlein et al., 2013). Over half (54.2%) of Indigenous households in Canada located on reserve land report food insecurity (Skinner, Hanning, Desjardins & Tsuji, 2013). The insecurity of Northern Indigenous communities has been linked to the high cost of access to and purchase of healthy foods, government social policies, loss of skills and knowledge to obtain local foods and lack of nutrition education (Islam & Berkes, 2016). N-EAT, in partnership with motivated Indigenous community leaders, is improving mindsets, skill sets, power dynamics and increasing the flow of resources towards achievement of food sovereignty for Indigneous groups. This means development of integrated, customized, and sustainable solutions for local food production, engaging the community members, particularly youth, to lead food enterprises and development of sustainable business models to ensure success beyond N-EAT’s involvement.

KLEMTU GREENHOUSE & COMMUNITY GARDEN:

In the spring of 2019, the N-EAT team collaborated with local leadership and community members of the Kitasoo/ Xai’xais First Nation in Klemtu, BC to revitalize their greenhouse that had fallen into disrepair and build a community garden. That summer, community members were harvesting fruits and vegetables from the garden; local school staff, students, and other community members attended workshops delivered by N-EAT’s Master Gardener, building intergenerational enthusiasm as families learned and gardened together; and a Klemtu Garden Coordinator was hired from within the community. The Garden Coordinator, with the support of local gardeners and volunteers, manages the greenhouse and a portion of the outdoor garden beds that make up the community garden. The other portion of the beds are managed by individual community members and their families. In April, 2020, the Kitasoo Band Office conducted a community survey that provided positive and constructive feedback on the Klemtu Community Garden that led to the planning and implementation of the garden expansion. This will double the number of outdoor community garden beds growing bulk staple crops and increase the length of the growing season with the building of hoop houses over garden beds. Local champions and N-EAT team members are working together to further expand the capacity of the local food system to operate all year.

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