IQALUIT, NU — Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre (QCFC) has launched a community-based resource that aims to bolster food sovereignty across Nunavut and other remote and Indigenous communities.
The launch was held July 8 from 11am to 2pm outside QCFC in Iqaluit and included a Country Food Market and live music courtesy of Alianait Arts Festival.
How to run a country food box program: A toolkit based on Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre’s Inuliqtait Food Box Program is based on a successful model developed by QCFC. It offers communities practical advice and tips on everything from building a network of hunters, to the safe handling and processing of meat, to templates for finances and tracking orders.
The Inuliqtait Food Box program began in 2022 and has quickly expanded to include a network of partners and over 50 hunters that allow us to distribute about 400 kg of meat each week.
Since its inception, people from communities across Inuit Nunangat have been reaching out to ask about the program and seek advice on starting their own country food program.
This is a guide for anyone who is interested in setting up a country food program that supports local hunters and provides a consistent supply of affordable country food. Our program has provided a steady income to Inuit hunters. Its pay-what-you-can model ensures low-barrier accessibility to the program.
“A really important component is still giving people choice. Giving people that opportunity for choice feeds back into the components of dignity, respect, autonomy, the things that Qajuqturvik stands for,” Rachel Blais, Co-Executive Director of QCFC says.
“This toolkit signifies the importance of reclaiming our culture through nutritious, healthy foods from our land and seas,” Co-Executive Director Francine Doucet says. “Inuksiut [country food] is an integral part of who we are as Inuit, and to be able to provide that at affordable prices for all to enjoy is paramount to our work toward food sovereignty at QCFC.”
- Click here for the English Inuliqtait Food Box program toolkit
- Click here for the Inuktitut Inuliqtait Food Box program toolkit.
About QCFC
QCFC is a non-profit based in Iqaluit that works to improve food access, skills, security, and sovereignty through programming and advocacy work. Our Daily Food program serves over 66,000 meals annually. Our food box programs (produce and country food) are pay-what-you- can.
