Investing in Indigenous Food Sovereignty
From coast to coast, many Indigenous communities are taking steps toward food sovereignty. What do these steps look like and what makes sense for your own community?
Before we dive into examples, let’s define food sovereignty and why it's preferred over the more common term food security. Food sovereignty is a term coined by a global farmer's movement Via Campesina in 1961 and is defined as:
“Food Sovereignty is the right of peoples, communities, and countries to define their own agricultural, labour, fishing, food and land policies, which are ecologically, socially, economically and culturally appropriate to their unique circumstances.” (Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty report, 2008)
Essentially: the right of a community to define its own diet and therefore shape its own food system. It is the preferred term because it focuses on giving power back to a community.
In a recent letter signed by 18 members across organizations in support of Indigenous food sovereignty amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they concluded, "As much as we require food security in communities, self-determination may be just as important."
Food sovereignty solutions that make sense
Growcer’s container farm in Kuujjuaq provides the Northen Quebec community with year-round access to fresh produce.
How resilient is your community’s food system? Are there multiple sources of food? What would happen if food prices increased? Would the effects of climate change impact your current system? These questions impact what we do today to ensure prosperity for the generations to come.
Growing your own food - while one option for better food sovereignty - only makes sense if it is sustainable and profitable.
The Growcer produces compact plug-and-play hydroponic growing systems that enable year-round growing for a variety of produce. These systems extend the growing season to 365 days a year and can operate in the most remote or northern climates.
However, there are critiques that the leafy greens produced through indoor systems are inadequate compared to more calorie-dense foods like animals and root crops when it comes to northern food sovereignty.
But, while valid, many communities are not relying on hydroponic growing as the only answer. The communities we work with pair hydroponic systems with other initiatives for a multi-faceted approach toward food sovereignty.
In the examples below, Indigenous communities have been able to do more than just grow produce with a container farm, they’ve been able to:
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employ members of the community;
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keep economic spending within local stores;
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facilitate community kitchens that serve as meeting and educational spaces;
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provide a fresh source of produce for local restaurants;
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meet community demands for fresher produce;
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customize their system to grow traditional produce such as mountain sorrel (gungulik), herbs, and teas;
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donate produce to vulnerable members; and
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reinvest revenues in other community projects.
Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society: adding to a community hub
The Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga’a Society is prepping the site behind their garden centre for the arrival of one of their container farm.
The Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society (GNS) operates a garden centre with three seasonal greenhouses, but is installing a Growcer unit this summer to add a year-round source of produce and revenue.
GNS plans to reinvest the additional revenue generated from the system into community initiatives, such as a community kitchen and food education programs, and donate a portion of the produce to vulnerable community members.
In addition to making produce available to the 1,600 Nisga’a members in Prince Rupert, GNS is building a cafe at its Rupert Lawn and Garden location to be able to sell the produce to the public.
It's up to you how you structure your own model. Some communities sell enough produce to break-even and donate the rest, while others - like GNS - reinvest the revenue in addition to donating a portion of the produce.
Norway House Cree Nation: Investing back
Norway House Cree Nation is home to a shipping container and packing unit to provide a variety fresh produce to the community.
At the 2014 CANDO (Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) conference, published economic leakage studies showed more than half of all economic activity was leaving several First Nations communities. In some communities, like Unama’ki, economic leakage was estimated to be about 75 percent.
For Norway House Cree Nation, food sovereignty was a priority in their economic development strategy. They partnered with BDO, Food Matters Manitoba, and The Growcer, to set up their own growing system. It employs two community members (for up to 30 hours per week) and supplies produce to the local Northern Store. As a result, a larger percentage of economic activity stays within the community.
Makivik Corporation: a dependable source for a northern community
One of the operators of the system in Kuujjuaq harvesting the produce for the community.
The Makivik Corporation represents the Inuit of Northern Quebec. They installed a growing system to supply Nunavik’s largest community, Kuujjuaq, with a year-round supply of healthy and affordable traditional and non-traditional produce.
The hydroponic growing system allows for a variety of crops to be grown, which in Kuujjuaq included mountain sorrel (qungulit) and lettuce. James Dumont, the manager of the local store Newviq’vi and system operator, had to make frequent visits to the farm to harvest additional produce to meet the growing demand from community members.
Overall, no two projects are the same - each community has worked to find a solution that fits the needs of its people. If you’re interested in what’s possible with your community, the Growcer team is committed to working with you and your community to structure a solution that not only fits, but thrives.
Speak to a team member and begin a feasibility study for your community today!