Building Sustainable Local Food Solutions in Northern Manitoba

Since time immemorial, Indigenous communities have been practicing holistic ways of being, and relationships with land and water. These ways of being and reciprocal relationships sustained nations. That is, until colonization disrupted and damaged local food systems, knowledge sharing, and self-reliance within communities. Despite these disruptions, broken treaty promises, and continued damages to land and […]

Key lessons in developing a Collaborative’s theory of change

The Collaborative and Councillor John Nasikapow at the OCN Raspberry Patch.

Program Lead Julie Price shares lessons from developing a theory of change for the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative in concert with large group of northern community members, advisors, funders, and partner organizations.

Community stories share local food successes in northern Manitoba

928 kilometres north of Winnipeg, Manitoba lies Barren Lands First Nation and Brochet. Facing high food costs, the community of just over 600 people expanded on an already existing interest in gardening by building a 14 x 20-foot greenhouse in 2013 in coordination with their local health centre and the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative (NMFCCC). This is only one of many inspiring examples from the NMFCCC 2016 Community Stories booklet, which shares learnings from 18 communities.

Learning trip to Opaskwayak Cree Nation and Sherridon, Manitoba

The Collaborative and Councillor John Nasikapow at the OCN Raspberry Patch.

Two weeks into my new role as Program Associate with Tides Canada working on the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative (NMFCCC), I had the opportunity to go on the 2016 NMFCCC Learning Trip. The Collaborative’s fourth learning trip took us to Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) and Sherridon for one week. The trip provides the Collaborative’s funders with an opportunity to get to know the community partners, learn about life in northern communities, and understand some of the challenges the people on the ground face.

New chapter in the Green Legacies Guide explores food and farmland

Photo: Michael Marrapese

Shared platform project Give Green Canada (G2) is introducing a new chapter around foodland and farmland to add to the Green Legacies Guide. The Guide is a robust resource for professional advisors and for individuals who are contemplating making a gift to benefit the environment. The new chapter provides key context and essential information to potential donors to ensure a vibrant and growing future for foodland and farmland in Canada.

Learning about gardens and greenhouses in the boreal forest

In late April, the Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative co-organized a garden and greenhouse workshop in Leaf Rapids, which brought together over 50 people from 18 Northern Manitoban communities. The workshop enabled participants to acquire additional skills, share ideas, and meet and build connections with people doing similar work.