The province announced a new council called the BC Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food (IACAF) which is made up of 15 members from across BC.
The new advisory council held its first meeting on June 24 and will continue meeting four times a year.
The council will work with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries to develop a three year strategic plan to advance shared priorities.
“With the advisory council’s guidance, I look forward to working together to create a more resilient food system in Indigenous communities around B.C. and building strong, vibrant Indigenous economies,” said Lana Popham, minister of agriculture, food and fisheries.
The council’s mandate is to advance reconciliation while enhancing participation of Indigenous peoples in the agricultural sector while supporting the realization of their food security, sovereignty and economic development goals.
“Our world views, knowledge systems, relationships with our lands and territories, and inherent rights to self-determination [...] guide IACAF’s work, and are essential to the realization of the objectives of this council,” said chief Byron Louis, IACAF chair, Okanagan Indian Band.
The council’s main priority areas include:
Advancing food security and sovereignty while contributing to more resilient local, regional and provincial food systems.
Increasing Indigenous people’s success and participation in the agriculture and food sectors
Strengthening and information the ministry’s understanding of Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights, interests and perspective as they relate to said sectors.
IACAF is governed by respect, reciprocity and responsibility, which are some of the main principles of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People’s Act and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
Click here to learn more about BC’s Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food.
To learn more about the three year strategic plan, visit this website.
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