Community Champions for Safe, Sustainable, Traditional Food Systems

Access to traditional Indigenous foods is a priority to improve food security and recognize the role of food in sustaining cultural and social connections. First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is Canada's first province-wide, Indigenous-led health authority and delivers services in a community-driven manner. FNHA collaborated with First Nations to implement a Community Champion model, whereby each Nation could identify an individual who worked in food programming to attend a train-the-trainer workshop on safe food preservation methods. The Champions then took this knowledge, along with provided resources, to lead canning workshops in their home communities. Throughout the first year, a community of practice was nurtured, and a gathering of this community was held at the end of the first year. Nations were able to meet food safety considerations through interactive learning, and access to traditional Indigenous foods was strengthened. The Community Champion model supports capacity building and creates a community of practice.