Community Food Programs Fund

The Community Food Programs Fund is an important component of the Harvesters Support Grant. Introduced in 2022, this fund has been co-developed with Indigenous partners to support a variety of community food sharing activities that include locally grown, market and country food. The Community Food Programs Fund expands the scope of the grant to initiatives such as school food programs, elders meal programs, and group ordering; supporting and strengthening the work that communities do to support local food security through culturally-appropriate, locally-led solutions.

Through flexible funding opportunities delivered by Indigenous organizations, the Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund:

• create less reliance on store bought food
• encourage the restoration of harvesting culture and practices
• supports local food production and community food sharing

Harvesters Support Grant expanded in June 2022, to include the new Community Food Programs Fund. 

How these programs work

Recipient organizations receive funding for eligible communities in their region and can create programs or other ways to support the communities they represent.

Each community has unique food security needs and priorities. The Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund are designed to ensure that Indigenous governments and organizations can decide how best to support their own communities.

The Harvesters Support Grant honours traditional decision making systems, and ensures that proposals are reviewed by a Women's Council, This council is composed of Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals who have extensive experience and knowledge of Northern issues and harvesting traditions.

The Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund support a wide range of hunting, harvesting and food sharing activities or initiatives, such as:

• harvesting equipment, including maintenance and storage of equipment
• maintenance of harvesting sites
• transportation and fuel expenses
• training, certification and education
• safety and rescue equipment
• shelter and outdoor clothing
• food-related minor infrastructure, facilities, equipment and related maintenance
• gardening and animal husbandry
• food centres, hubs and community kitchens
• local food programs, such as school food, Elders meals and local food banks
• salaries and services required for the coordination of ordering, transport, or distribution of market foods within a community
• food distribution networks within and outside of communities
• buying clubs and revolving loan funds for bulk food purchasing
• traditional decision making structures and community coordination
• cultural ceremony and celebration
• research and innovation

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