Indigenous food security, sovereignty projects in the Cariboo Chilcotin and Thompson Nicola regions are among those who have and can receive support from the province.
An announcement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on May 14 opening up the final round of funding lists more than 100 Indigenous-led projects which have received support so far, including a number from the Cariboo Chilcotin and Thompson-Nicola regions,.
B.C.'s Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program is administered through the independent Indigenous-led non profit New Relationship Trust.
The program began in 2023 to support both on-reserve and off-reserve projects, including food harvesting revitalization, expanding production capacity, boosting local food processing and distribution and growing commercial enterprises. New Relationship Trust works with Indigenous communities, businesses, and entrepreneurs to identify their needs and provide the necessary supports, according to their website.
Applicants are required to pay a portion of the costs of the project, approved applicants can only have one funded project at a time, and applicants which successfully completed their project in the first round of funding will be prioritized for the second round. Businesses applying must have at least 51 per cent Indigenous ownership and control and on-reserve projects may require evidence of land-use approval.
Applications for the third and final round of $10 million in program funding opened May 13, 2025.
In total, the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program will award $30 million over the program's three years.
"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 in the government press release.
"These Indigenous-led projects highlight how Indigenous knowledge supports increasing local food supply and food security, especially in rural and remote communities."
Applicants receiving funds in the Cariboo-Chilcotin and Thomspon Regions since the program began in 2023 include:
- Alkali Enterprises' for an irrigation system and greenhouse project
- Nazko First Nation for part 2 of a local food security project involving orchards
- Nuxalk Nation Development Corporation and Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola for food systems planning and food hub plan and design
- Wild way Farm and Joseph Battensby, in Bella Coola for the planning and development of a commercial kitchen
- Rustic Acres Farm in Forest Grove for hay field production and a greenhouse
- Sugar Cane Development Corporation in Williams Lake for a tractor and community garden staff at the 150 Mile Ranch
- Lhtako Dene Nation near Quesnel for a modular farming project
- Ulkatcho Nation for training for community food security initiatives
- Tl'etinqox Government near Riske Creek for a food forest community garden project
- Bryden Kohnke of Williams Lake for food processing equipment
- Spelqweqs Development LP, at Canim Lake for a community food storage facility initiative
- Whispering Pines / Clinton Indian Band for a greenhouse project
- Simpcw First Nation near Barriere for a community garden
- Tl'esqox Indian Band near Riske Creek for a community garden project
