The Feeding Nunavut Harvester Support Program has recently benefited from grant funding provided by the Government of Nunavut. These much needed dollars has allowed us to expand the program within our test community.
Summary of program implementation to date:
- Committee of six community volunteer members has been established to set/review scope of program, identify harvesters, identify hunting opportunities, and determine how to best meet the country food needs of the community.
- The need for hunting equipment has been identified and secured. This includes equipment that will help to better transport supplies and hunting proceeds, equipment to ease some of the hardship of ice fishing (particularly for Elders) and equipment to facilitate meeting school cooking requirements.
- To date, 71% of harvesters interested in participating in the program have received small maintenance and repairs to their machines and/or sleds.
- Purchased equipment to meet requirements of the Elementary school meal program. Country food preparation specifications have been set. Both paid and volunteer cooks have been recruited.
As a result of these initiatives, country food has been delivered to Elders and traditionally shared with the community on multiple occasions.
Unfortunately weather has minimized the number of hunting days available during the winter months of February and March, significantly impeding our ability to execute this program. We look forward to the upcoming change of season and weather that will be more conducive to hunting, particularly for Elders.
Because of grant funding from The Government of Nunavut, and the strong donation support for Feeding Nunavut food security initiatives, we are privileged to administer this Harvester Support program. The program is doing good things at many levels in this community!
Thank you to all that support our work.
