Food assistance is a relief service where food can be obtained and can take many forms:
- shared or community refrigerators;
- food banks;
- provision of free or low-cost meals;
- distribution of products from hunting, fishing, gathering and harvesting;
- community kitchens;
- etc.
Shared or community fridges
Shared fridges provide the public with perishable food items that can be dropped off by individuals or community organizations.
An example? The Maison Uastheu supplies a shared fridge in the community of Mashteuiatsh.
Food banks
Food banks are places where free food is distributed. In urban areas, this service is very often offered by Native Friendship Centres, and many communities have a food distribution service. Here are a few examples:
- The Comptoir Agoshin, which is located in Wendake, provides weekly food distributions and also offers one-off emergency food assistance upon referral. Find out more about this initiative.
- The Maison Kuessipan, which is located in Ekuanitshit, has also set up a food distribution service. Find out more about this initiative.
- The Maison Uastheu, which is located in Mashteuiatsh, also offers a food distribution service. Find out more about this initiative.
Free or low-cost meal service
This service is sometimes offered at Native Friendship Centres. The Sirivik food security centre, for example, has established a drop-in service that allows people in need to stock up on supplies at any time. Coffee, snacks, health, and non-perishable food items are always available, as well as frozen meals in case of emergency.
Distribution of hunting, fishing, gathering, and harvested products
Since sharing is a core value of First Nations and the Inuit, game and fishing products are distributed free of charge in many communities. Here are a few examples:
Nunavik
In Nunavik, all villages benefit from a community hunting and fishing sharing system. A cold storage facility has been built in each community to store hunting and fishing products. This food, which is made available to community members, is purchased from hunters and fishermen, providing them with an income while making traditional food accessible to all.
Gespeg
Every fall, the community of Gespeg distributes products from community hunting and fishing to community elders. Food preservation between hunting and distribution is facilitated by a cold storage facility that was set up in 2022. This facility is equipped to process and preserve game and fish. Grinders, smokers, a professional kitchen, and vacuum packaging machines allow for the distribution of products that are of higher quality than they were prior to the introduction of processing equipment.
Learn more about this initiative
Community kitchens
Community kitchens provide a means of obtaining healthy meals at low cost, as well as a way to meet other people. Certain Native Friendship Centres offer this service. There is a Facebook page that is dedicated to community kitchens for First Nations and the Inuit.
