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 fourth year of delivering the Food Systems Program in 2025-26, funded in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority and Ministry of Agriculture.

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, and trust-based 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 Team is excited to announce that we received additional funds this year. To make the best use of these funds, we have decided to offer a second, fall intake of the Food Systems Program grant and Learning Together, Growing Together Top Up. This intake will focus strictly on activities that can take place over the fall and winter months. 

The Food Systems Program Grant will open on August 25, 2025 to support projects focused on winter & early spring activities and expenses. Projects must be completed and funds spent by March 31, 2026. 

Please watch the recording of our 2025 – Program Grant Application Webinar and register for our upcoming Strategic Food Systems: The Power of Planning Webinar. More information within the Webinar section below.  

 

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 in previous years the Food Systems Program Team is incredibly excited to be partnering directly with communities to host four more intimate Regional Gatherings right where the incredible work of Indigenous food systems is happening on the ground.  

  • Our Northern Regional Gathering will be hosted with Stellat’en First Nation near Fraser Lake, BC on August 20 & 21 
  • Our Interior Regional Gathering will be hosted with ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation in Windermere, BC on September 3 & 4 
  • Our Vancouver Island Regional Gathering Will be hosted with the Vancouver Island Indigenous Food Gathering in Duncan, BC on October 6 – 9 
  • Our Coastal/Fraser Regional Gathering will be hosted with Lil’wat First Nation in Mount Currie, BC on November 13 & 14 

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.  

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 and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Recordings of all webinars can be found below.  

The Food Systems Program team plans to continue organizing virtual opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing throughout the 2025-26 season. A webinar focused on Food Systems Program grant applications and processes was held on May 7, 2025 (recording below). 

We are incredibly happy to announce the newest webinar in our Indigenous Food Systems webinar series –  Strategic Food Systems: The Power of Planning. This webinar will take place on August 25, 2025 at 1 pm and focuses on the importance of strategic planning and smart design for thriving Indigenous food systems with a presentation from the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.  

Please register in advance, through button below: