2026-27 Grant Season is Live! 

I·SPARC is excited to announce the intake for the 2026-27 Food Systems Program Community Grants. 

  • Grant Launch: May 25, 2026 
  • Application Deadline: June 15, 2026 

Apply Now: Guidelines & Application Portal 

Program Overview

As part of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council’s (I·SPARC) Healthy Living programming, the Food Systems Program (FSP) supports Indigenous communities in reaching their food sovereignty and food security goals. The Food Systems Program distributes grant opportunities and provides support with capacity building, technical training, networking, and cultural sharing through in-person gatherings, online education/events, and resource sharing. I·SPARC is committed to being inclusive of all aspects of food relations while offering a low-barrier strengths-based approach. Building on over ten years of prior momentum, I·SPARC is now in the fifth year of delivering the Food Systems Program in 2026-27, funded in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority. 

Program History

On April 1, 2022, I·SPARC began delivering the FNFS under a modified name, ‘Food Systems Program’ (FSP). The Food Systems Program’s community-driven projects have grown to include gardening and Indigenous food-related initiatives such as ceremony, foraging, fishing, hunting, medicinal gardens, food forests & forest gardens, revitalization of historical infrastructure (e.g. clam gardens and harvesting areas), food preservation, food skills, and climate change mitigation strategies—all factored into overall health and wellbeing on a community’s pathway toward food sovereignty and food security. 

What We Do

The I·SPARC Food Systems Program aims to deliver programming in a good way, with community, to address the distinct needs of First Nations communities and Indigenous populations across the province in relation to food sovereignty and food security through the delivery of grants, capacity building support and knowledge sharing events that contribute to improved health outcomes for Indigenous peoples across the province. The program follows a community-driven approach and focuses on knowledge sharing and capacity building in relation to food. Grants provided through the Food Systems Program support the unique needs of communities with getting started, scaling up, or sustaining their food-related projects.  

Opportunities 

  • $5,000 grants* for food-related activities, equipment, and infrastructure 
  • A community driven approach to technical and educational supports, through the Learning Together, Growing Together Fund and virtual gatherings/webinars 
  • Regional and provincial Gatherings for networking and knowledge exchange 

*  I·SPARC is committed to providing flexible, low-barrier granting processes. 

Granting

The Food Systems Program provides First Nation communities and Indigenous populations in B.C with grants to fund a wide range of projects that support Indigenous-led food sovereignty, food security, and Indigenous food relations.  

  • The Food Systems Program Grant in an amount up to $5,000 focuses on food related activities and can be applied towards food security planning, building of infrastructure, purchase of materials, tools, equipment, honoraria, wages and more
  • Successful applicants to the Food Systems Program grant are eligible to apply to the Learning Together, Growing Together Fund in an amount up to $3,000. This fund is provided as a top-up and focuses strictly on capacity building through education, workshops, training, mentorship, and knowledge sharing and can only be applied to in connection with the Food Systems Program Grant

The Food Systems Program Grant will be accepting applications from May 25, 2026 to June 15, 2026.  

Please watch the recording of our 2025 – Program Grant Application Webinar in our webinar section below for more information on how to apply.  

Gatherings

Each year, the Food Systems Program organizes in-person gatherings to support program participants through technical training, networking, knowledge sharing and cultural exchange in relation to food. After three Provincial Gatherings the Food Systems Program partnered directly with communities to host four Regional Gatherings right where the incredible work of Indigenous food systems is happening on the ground. This year we will again be hosting a Provincial Gathering in February 2027. 

These gatherings were designed together with our incredible Food Systems Program participants. Thank you to everybody that participated in our advisory meetings. It is a unique opportunity to:   

  • Engage in Peer-to-Peer Learning: Share experiences and insights with fellow grant recipients who are navigating similar paths 
  • Deepen Knowledge Sharing: Explore innovative approaches and traditional wisdom in Indigenous food systems 
  • Forge Meaningful Connections: Expand networks, build lasting relationships, and discover new collaborations 
  • Cultivate Mentorship: Connect with mentors and mentees, fostering growth and support within the Food Systems Program community 
  • Showcase Amazing Projects: We will be highlighting some of the inspiring projects that are part of the program, celebrating their collective impact 
  • Experience Rich Cultural Activities: Immerse ourselves in culturally specific activities that honor the traditions and practices of the host communities 

These gatherings are for Food Systems Program participants and invited guests only.   

Online Networking Space: Join our monthly Indigenous Food System Champions Online Networking & Connection Space for making connections, sharing resources, and knowledge exchange. We gather on the second Tuesday of every month from 12-1 PM PST. Open to everyone working on or supporting Indigenous food system projects in British Columbia.

Email food@isparc.ca for registration details. 

 

Webinars

The Food Systems Program continues to deliver virtual knowledge sharing and networking opportunities to support Indigenous food champions across the province with sharing lessons learned, upholding Indigenous voices in relation to food, and providing opportunities to strengthen Indigenous food networks. Past virtual webinars were in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority, Métis Nation BC, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and FSP participating communities. Recordings of our webinars can be found below.   

 

 

 

 

 

Resources

First Peoples Food Wellness Hub: This new website serves as a virtual knowledge basket, sharing resources around food wellness and holistic health to support the well-being of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people living in what is currently known as British Columbia. This virtual space shares resources and knowledge from across the province, including resource-specific websites, educational documents, interactive toolkits, videos, books, games, networking and more. 

I·SPARC FSP Facebook Page: Find us on Facebook where we share news, knowledge, important information from our partners, and highlight FSP project stories!