Partnerships
Nutrition North Canada programming is informed by its Advisory Board to the Minister of Northern Affairs and 2 working groups: the Indigenous Working Group, and the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group.
The program also benefits from strong relationships with NNC communities and recipient Indigenous Organizations. These partnerships are key to the program's continued evolution.
Through regular programming updates and expansions, Nutrition North Canada continues to benefit from direct engagement with Indigenous and community partners. Significant examples include creation and delivery of the Harvesters Support Grant, expansion of the retail subsidy and co-developed support for community-driven food security solutions.
On this page
Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board
The Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board was established to support program governance by providing residents of isolated communities in Canada with a direct voice in the program.
Board members advise the Minister of Northern Affairs to help guide the management, direction and activities of the program and to ensure that Northerners receive its full benefits. The board is actively involved in raising awareness and gathering input from program users to ensure northern and community perspectives are heard and considered.
The Board is made up of a diverse group of members who have extensive experience living and working across Nutrition North Canada's delivery area. They offer unique perspectives and local knowledge to help make the program more relevant to northerners.
Board members serve in their own right, not as representatives of any particular organization, area or special interest. They are appointed to 3-year terms that can be renewed for additional terms at the discretion of the Minister.
This is a volunteer board but expenses related to membership are reimbursed. Members are also given a small honorarium for their travel to and participation in face-to-face meetings.
Biographies
Mandate
Contact the advisory board
Email: aadnc.nncadvisoryboard.aandc@canada.ca
Fax: 819-953-9309
Mail: 25 Eddy Street, 14th Floor, Gatineau QC K1A 0H4
Indigenous Working Group
Nutrition North Canada's Indigenous Working Group was launched in May 2017. It provides Indigenous partners with an opportunity to collaboratively develop updates and improvements to Nutrition North Canada, so that it better serves eligible communities.
The Indigenous Working Group is comprised of Indigenous organizations and governments that represent one or more of Nutrition North Canada's eligible communities. Representative members currently include:
- Dene Nation
- Sahtu Dene Council
- Tlicho Government
- Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (delegated to Prince Albert Grand Council)
- Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (delegated to Four Arrows Regional Health Authority)
- Nishnawbe Aski Nation
- Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
- NunatuKavut Community Council
- Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
- Indigenous Services Canada
The Indigenous Working Group has 2 co-chairs:
- one from the Nutrition North Canada program
- one from an Indigenous organization as selected by members
The Indigenous Working Group meets regularly by teleconference and in person once a year. The group reports to the Director of Nutrition North Canada and the Advisory Board.
Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group
The Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group was announced in December 2018 as part of the Inuit Crown Partnership Committee. This working group was created to focus on food security and work towards a sustainable food system in Inuit Nunangat.
Nutrition North Canada continues to work closely with the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group to help support the unique challenges of Inuit communities. The Working Group is led and co-chaired by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Indigenous Services Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch with Nutrition North Canada program staff participating as members.
Indigenous recipient organizations
The Harvesters Support Grant recipients network offers a unique partnership to the program by supporting updates to strengthen local food systems and access to market, country and traditional foods. This network also supports the integration of skills and employment training, and opportunities to support the harvesting economy over time. Learn more about the recipient organizations and support for hunting, harvesting and community-led food programs.