A newly opened Food Security Centre is strengthening independence and providing a community space for reclaiming and sharing traditional knowledge and cultural practices in Gitanyow. The multi-purpose facility, built through a partnership between the Gitanyow Huwilp Society (GHS) and the Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) Community Investment Fund, will generate a wide range of opportunities for processing wild and farmed foods and preparing traditional Indigenous medicines.
Located in Gitanyow Village off Highway 37 between Terrace and Smithers, the Food Security Centre is situated along a major hunting corridor used by hunters from across the Northwest region. The purpose-built facility is attached to the new Gitanyow Lax’yip Guardians offices and equipped with a large commercial kitchen and walk-in cooler. Temperature-controlled to a consistent three degrees Celsius, the cooler is designed to allow adequate time for fresh meat to safely age before it is processed in the adjacent kitchen space. It has the capacity to hold between six and eight moose, or other large game and livestock.
“The Food Security Centre is transformative and will impact generations of people by enabling community members to have a safe, clean, and effective place to store, process, and share the food they hunt, gather, and grow,” said Guardian Hl’ik / James Morgan. “Having access to this centrally located space will also open a new world of opportunities for Gitanyow elders, adults, and youth to engage in new cultural, educational, and skills training programs.”
“Our organization places immense value in investing in this unique infrastructure that not only supports food safety and security but also creates a dedicated place for all community members to actively enrich their health and wellbeing through sharing traditional Indigenous practices and knowledge,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority.
PRPA’s Community Investment Fund contributed $118,500 to the Gitanyow Food Security Centre. The Fund has previously supported several other food security initiatives across the northwest region, committing nearly $914,000 to the development of community kitchens and greenhouses. PRPA is also a key sponsor of the Breakfast Club of Canada, a program that provides free meals to students in all public schools in Prince Rupert.
To read the original release on NationTalk.