An All-Islands Food Strategy Is Underway Again!

Between September of 2020 and April of 2021, a series of six food security webinars were held to start off the development of a Haida Gwaii Food Strategy (HGFS). After a break through summer and fall, work on the Strategy has started up again. Over the next year, a team of food enthusiasts will lead a community engagement process to define a vision for a food independent Haida Gwaii.

Every community will have the opportunity to engage with the Food Strategy events, surveys, discussion groups, webinars, and interviews. By seeking wise counsel through listening to Elders, youth, food harvesters, farmers and processors, as well as other knowledge holders from islands communities, the team aims to connect with community members, bring people together to identify common priorities regarding local food security, map food assets, and spur innovation.

Climate Change and Marine Health Research Project

After listening to key stakeholders, the project then aims to take the collective knowledge of the community and combine it with climate modeling from the University of British Columbia. They hope to better understand how climate change will affect important marine foods and use it to create strong management plans to preserve traditional marine foods. Our children, grandchildren, and great grand children deserve to enjoy the same foods that have sustained the communities of Haida Gwaii for millennia.

Watch the Film Gather

Chosen as the New York Times Critic’s Pick of 2020, Gather attentively chronicles the growing movement amongst Indigenous Americans to reinforce their spiritual, political, and cultural identities through culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, all while processing the trauma of centuries of genocide.

Join us for refreshments, a theatre-like screening of Gather, and vibrant discussion about our reflections on the themes of the documentary. See the Haida Gwaii Museum facebook page for updates on how to reserve a ticket or join in on Zoom. Two Saturday screenings will be held from 6:30-8:30 PM – in Daajing Giids Queen Charlotte at Gather restaurant on Saturday January 29th, and in Masset at Sherri’s place on Saturday February 5th.

Please Get in Touch!

Are you interested in attending the event? Do you have knowledge you’d like to share, food security solutions, or a desire to volunteer? Send an email to Emily Peer-Groves, Food Strategy Coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (778) 986-3307. The HGFS project is a partnership between the SBC, Swiilawiid, Local Foods 2 School, and the Haida Gwaii Museum.

To contact Matt Peck, Climate Change Project Coordinator, write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The climate change and marine health initiative is a partnership between the SBC, Tla’amin Nation, Nuxalk Nation, ‘Namgis First Nation, and academic researchers from University of Ottawa, University of Laval, University of Montreal, University of BC, Simon Fraser University, and the First Nations Health Authority.