Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal announces $120 million in funding for community food; harvesting programs

Funding intended to strengthen food security

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services

During a Rankin Inlet visit on March 14, Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal announced the signing of grant agreements with 24 regional Indigenous governments, expected to amount to over $120 million and affect up to 112 Northern and isolated communities for traditional hunting, harvesting and community food programs.

“These initiatives are central to our government’s response to food security in the North and Arctic and will help strengthen food sovereignty,” said Vandal.

The money is for the Harvesters Support Grant and the new Community Food Programs Fund and it will be doled out over two years.

The Harvesters Support Grant provides funding for traditional harvesting and sharing of country food. Launched in 2020, over 5,500 harvesters have been given funding.

The Community Food Programs Fund supports work like school and Elder meal programs. Both programs have input from the federal government and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, said NTI vice-president Paul Irngaut.

“The Harvesters Support Grant and Community Food Programs Fund are initiatives that were co-developed between the Government of Canada and Inuit and are recognized deliverables on the food security work plan under the Inuit–Crown Partnership Committee,” said Irngaut.

The Harvesters Support grant has its origins in Nunavut during the pandemic, where Covid19 related public health measures highlighted the need to support local food systems and the market for those systems.

On March 14, Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal announced new funding for harvesters and community food programs.