The Kispiox Band Council and Glenn Vowell (Sik E Dakh) Band are among local communities that will benefit from provincial funding from Food Bank B.C.
The government of British Columbia announced last week it is giving northern British Columbia communities access to grants to enhance food security.
Thirty-six organizations will receive Northern Resilience grants through a partnership with the Public Health Association of B.C.
The $200 million funding, first announced in March 2023, is aimed to create food production in rural areas and create more fresh food and food supply chains within communities.
Nathan Cullen, MLA for Stikine, said these grants will help the communities of the Stikine riding.
“The people [who] live here and help support their neighbours, families and friends know the needs of our community best,” Cullen said in a media release.
“Here in the North, we face extra challenges to food security, and funding for these innovative local projects means more people will have access to nutritious, affordable foods,” he said.
For the past several years, Sik E Dakh has been developing a community gardening programming and runs a farm school to teach people how to grow food and become more self-sufficient.
“Provincial funding will help address the diverse challenges of food producers, processors, suppliers, retailers and consumers, strengthening food security for everyone,” reads a statement from the Government of British Columbia’s website.