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Manitoba invests $1.3M in northern food security initiatives

The Manitoba government is providing $1.3 million towards the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative (NHFI) to partner on northern food security projects and strengthen community-led food initiatives.

“The Northern Healthy Foods Initiative works to assist in the development of programs driven by northern communities that develop resources, opportunities and education around local food systems,” said Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere.

Food security projects and programming is delivered by several community-based organizations including Bayline Regional Roundtable, Four Arrows Regional Health Authority, Frontier School Division, Food Matters Manitoba and the Northern Association of Community Councils.

“The government of Manitoba’s ongoing support of the Northern Association of Community Council’s Northern Healthy Foods Initiative program affords us the stability required to deliver on consistent, long-term food security projects,” said Linda Payeur, executive director, Northern Association of Community Council. “This past couple of years we have experienced a dramatic increase of demand for community-led initiatives related to food security and sovereignty. The funds granted through this initiative has afforded NACC the ability to leverage additional funds from other sources, thereby the ability to address the increased demand on the NHFI program. We have dramatically increased the delivery of workshops and resources such as garden seeds, tools, etc. to the growing number of participants and in turn it also enhances community sharing of knowledge and experiences.”

“The Frontier School Division’s Grow North Program appreciates the continued support to encourage youth and communities towards a sustainable future,” said Brian Trewin, gardening co-ordinator, Frontier School Division. “The work in progress is a necessary endeavor for northern communities and the people. The patience that Northern Healthy Foods Initiative has shown us really endows us with confidence that we can continue down the path of food-secure communities. As one of the partners of NHFI, we hope to play a role in healthy foods, healthy bodies and healthy minds.”

Additionally, the program supports initiatives through partnerships with the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture and Community Collaborative and the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba.

The initiatives target communities in more than 80 per cent of the province including First Nations, Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations communities, and northern municipalities.

For more information about the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative, visit www.gov.mb.ca/inr/major-initiatives/nhfi/.