The federal government says it will provide up to $1.75 million for five projects in the NWT that aim to improve food security.
The bulk of that funding, up to $1.2 million, will go to Black Spruce Education – a non-profit focused on land-based youth education – for a four-year project to build an education centre in Norman Wells.
According to a press release, the organization plans to develop space for training, business incubation and cultural programming including a workshop, commercial teaching kitchen, greenhouse, offices and a café.
CanNor minister Rebecca Chartrand announced the funding at a food sovereignty summit in Ottawa.
“Supporting food security in the North is central to building strong, healthy communities,” she stated in a news release.
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“This work helps build a more resilient and self-reliant North for generations to come.”
The federal government has said it will also invest up to $184,000 in a two-year modular greenhouse project in Tsiigehtchic and up to $170,000 in the Territorial Agrifood Association’s “Forging Flavour” project to establish a food processing hub and shared commercial kitchen in Yellowknife.
Canada further said it will invest up to $100,000, with $25,000 from the GNWT, in a two-year project to develop a food hub showcasing “northern culinary traditions and foods” like Great Slave Lake fish in Yellowknife’s Old Town. The project will feature a commercial kitchen, food processing and storage.
Finally, the federal government has committed up to $99,800 and the GNWT up to $53,515 in Fish on the Bay’s two-year project to relocate and expand operations in Yellowknife, including the purchase of an additional fishing vessel.
“These projects support local entrepreneurs, strengthen regional food systems, and help ensure northern producers have the infrastructure they need to grow and succeed,” stated Caitlin Cleveland, the NWT’s minister of industry, tourism and investment.
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