A new food hub hopes to improve food security and Indigenous food sovereignty across the North Island.
Called the Kwakiutl Food Hub, it would be used to increase access to traditional and local foods, lower reliance on outside sources, and foster economic development for the Kwakiutl First Nation.
United Way British Columbia says $1 million has been invested to the project through their Large Food Infrastructure Grant, with hopes the hub can address big challenges affecting rural and remote communities on the North Island.
“These include limited access to nutritious, culturally preferred, and locally sourced foods, lack of infrastructure for food storage, processing, and distribution, food supply chain disruptions, and disruptions to traditional foodways due to colonization, industrialization, and environmental degradation in Kwakiutl territory,” said United Way.
To deal with these issues, the hub will provide a centralized space for food security initiatives, business development, and education while also keeping Kwakiutl traditions, and supporting Indigenous-led food enterprises.
The hub is located in Tsaxis.
