3.2.4

Description: 
We will develop country food programming to promote opportunities for the consumption of foods such as fish, wildlife, berries, and mushrooms.
Lead Dept: 
ENR
Priority: 
3.2
Status: 
Fulfilled
Restructured COC: 
Economy and Environment
Number: 
4
Deputy Minister Committee: 
Economy and Environment
Background Information: 

COST OF LIVING

Commitment 3.2.4 – We will develop country food programming to promote opportunities for the consumption of foods such as fish, wildlife, berries, and mushrooms.

Many NWT residents are highly reliant on country food as a daily source of energy and essential nutrients. Country food, and an environment that sustains this resource, is essential to the health of NWT’s people.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) is committed to promoting initiatives that foster and support sustainable on-the-land livelihoods for the residents of NWT (milestone 2). ENR is moving towards assessing and strengthening existing programming in this area through identification and development of potential new initiatives, particularly with respect to traditional economy and country foods.

In October 2017, ENR and partners co-hosted an NWT Country Foods Forum that included sustainable country food systems as one of the major themes (milestone 1). ENR will undertake regional engagement sessions on the development of an NWT-wide Country Food Strategy and will continue to work with partners to identify opportunities for country food programming including research initiatives.

ENR continues to participate in the NWT On-the-Land Funders Collaborative which supports activities that promote country food security.

Related Mandate Commitments:

  • Commitment 2.5.5 - We will implement programs that support youth in their communities and in their schools to encourage local food production and consumption.
  • Commitment 3.2.1 - We will develop and implement a multi-year management strategy for barren-ground caribou in the Northwest Territories.
  • Commitment 3.2.2 - We will develop a range plan for boreal caribou in the Northwest Territories.
  • Commitment 3.2.3 - We will develop species-specific wildlife management strategies for the three wood bison herds and continue to monitor the populations of muskox, and moose.
  • Commitment 4.3.5 - We will reduce the burden of chronic disease by promoting healthy lifestyles and improving screening and management, with specific focus on: Expanding the production and availability of local foods such as fish, country food, and garden produce.
  • Commitment 4.3.10 - We will finalize a strategic plan to enhance existing programming and build new partnership initiatives to support healthy and sustainable traditional lifestyles.