Reclaiming Our Plates, Reclaiming Our Health: Introducing the First Peoples Food Wellness Hub

For First Peoples, the land has always been the primary provider. For generations, the forests, rivers, and oceans have offered more than just sustenance—they have provided the medicines and nourishment that maintain the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health of our communities.

Today, we are seeing a powerful reclamation of these systems. While modern science is beginning to “discover” the benefits of land-based diets, Indigenous peoples have known this truth since time immemorial: Strong connections to the land and our food systems lead to healthier lives.

A New Vision for Food Wellness

In 2019, a shift began at the federal level with a commitment to support Indigenous-led healthy eating tools. This led to the creation of the Indigenous Food Wellness Advisory, a group of food champions from across British Columbia tasked with reimagining what “wellness” looks like when it is rooted in culture rather than just nutrition labels.

The result of this collaboration—between I·SPARC, Sa̱nala Planning, the B.C. Ministry of Health, and Health Canada—is the First Peoples Food Wellness Hub.

More Than a Website: A Knowledge Basket

The Hub was designed to address a specific need: distinctions-based tools that respect the vast geographic, linguistic, and cultural diversity of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples across B.C.

Think of this virtual space as a Knowledge Basket. It is a living, breathing resource that:

  • Honours Diversity: Recognizes that food wellness looks different in a coastal village than it does in the interior plateau.

  • Centralizes Resources: Houses incredible region-specific tools that already exist while leaving space for new ones to be added.

  • Promotes Sovereignty: Built through a process that is Indigenous-led, trauma-informed, and self-determined.

The Heart of the Hub

The core intention of the First Peoples Food Wellness Hub is simple yet profound: To honour and raise up Indigenous knowledge around food wellness and holistic health.

By providing a space where our traditions and modern health needs meet, the Hub supports the well-being of our families today and ensures that our food systems remain protected for the generations to come.

Explore the Hub: https://firstpeoplesfoodwellnesshub.ca/

Join us in celebrating the foods that have always looked after us.