Northern Food Innovation Challenge Phase 2 Participants
For Phase 2, four projects were selected to receive an additional $3 million in total funding to scale-up their project, and continue developing upon the progress they made in Phase 1.
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Nunavut
Project Name: Ilisaqsivik Society - Strengthening Food Harvesting Capacity
Location: Clyde River
Participant: Ilisaqsivik Society
Funding Amount: $1,000,000
Ilisaqsivik Society is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing health and wellness, capacity building, and Inuit-centred economy in Clyde River, Nunavut. For nearly 25 years, Ilisaqsivik has been providing Inuit-led, culturally and linguistically relevant programs founded on Inuit knowledge. Programs are wide-ranging, delivered in Inuktitut and often unprecedented. Ittaq Heritage and Research Centre is part of Ilisaqsivik. Ittaq supports Inuit self-determination in research and specializes in land-programming and multimedia. Angunasuktiit, one of Ittaq’s core programs, aims to strengthen food security and food sovereignty, pass on Inuit knowledge, and show the critical place of hunting in community economy.
Project: During Phase 1 of the Challenge, the organization employed hunter-instructors to provide traditional country food year-round to elders, children, families, and other community members. The objective of this project is to find new, innovative approaches to community food security by leveraging traditional knowledge, education and technology towards improving country food availability for the community.
Phase 2 of the project will continue capacity scale-up by hiring additional instructors able to teach youth the skills needed to hunt and harvest traditional country food.
Project Name: Inuliqtait Country Food Program
Location: Iqaluit
Participant: Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre (QCFC)
Funding Amount: $400,000
Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre strives to strengthen health, belonging and food sovereignty in Iqaluit by using the power of food, tradition and community. QCFC offers a range of programming that focuses on food access, food skills, and advocacy work to address the many root causes of food insecurity.
Project: During Phase 1 they received funding for their Inuliqtait Country Food Program. This provided hunters with the opportunity to make income by harvesting country food, as well as providing retail space, storage and increased food processing capacity at the food centre.
During Phase 2, the organization will purchase equipment to increase capacity for food processing and adding retail space for local hunters to sell country food. QCFC will also use an innovative web application that matches consumers with hunters, ensuring that hunters have a buyer for their harvest before they invest their time. Country food will also be sold using different pricing options so that community members of all economic backgrounds can have access.
Northwest Territories
Project Name: Food Security, Bison Farm to Fork
Location: Fort Simpson
Participant: Fort Simpson Métis Development Corporation (FSMDC)
Funding Amount: $705,000
The Fort Simpson Métis Development Corporation was incorporated in 1989 by members of the Fort Simpson Métis community, Métis Local 52. The primary goal of the Corporation is to develop and invest in businesses that benefit members of the Fort Simpson Métis Local 52 and the community.
Project: During Phase 1, the FSMDC conducted a feasibility study on establishing a bison meat processing facility in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories.
During Phase 2, the organization is moving forward with site preparations and the purchase of equipment for the processing facility, as well as the procurement of project management and professional services. Through this initiative, the FSMDC will be able to process bison meat on site, which will create jobs in the community and provide quality food at competitive prices. Research will also continue into the feasibility of establishing a local bison herd.
Yukon
Project Name: Centralized Traditional and Local Processing Kitchen Facility
Location: Whitehorse
Participant: Yukon First Nation Education Directorate (YFNED)
Funding Amount: $845,000
The Yukon First Nation Education Directorate is an indigenous-led organization dedicated to capacity-building, systems and resources development, second-level educational programs and services enhancement, and learner supports. YFNED advances First Nation decision-making and aspirations for control over education, providing technical support, research and advice for Framework Agreement processes, and advocates for First Nation student success across the system.
Project: Phase 1 objectives included creating a feasibility study, functional plan, and conceptual layout for a centralized traditional and local processing kitchen facility. In Phase 2, funding will go towards completion of the architectural design and detailed drawings, including building designs for innovative teaching components and net-zero building construction.