Splatsin’s Path to Food Sovereignty

A Community-Led Approach to Food Sovereignty

What happens when children grow up knowing exactly who they are and where their food comes from?

At Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn Society, food is more than nourishment. It is connection, identity, and a way of life.

Through the On-the-Land Food Knowledge and Preservation Program, the Splatsin community is strengthening Indigenous food sovereignty by bringing families, Elders, and youth together to learn, share, and practice traditional food systems.

From harvesting and hunting to gardening and preservation, this work is rooted in knowledge that has been passed down for generations and is now being actively taught to the next.

Learning That Starts Early and Lasts a Lifetime

Children begin their journey in the teaching centre as early as six months old and continue learning through their youth. Over time, that learning becomes leadership.

This program creates a space where generations come together. Elders share knowledge. Youth ask questions. Families participate side by side.

What happens in the classroom does not stay there. Children bring these teachings home, encouraging their families to reconnect with practices like hunting, fishing, and berry picking.

This is how knowledge grows. This is how it lasts.

Reviving Traditional Food Knowledge

A key part of this work is ensuring that traditional knowledge is not only preserved, but actively practiced.

Community members take part in:

• Canning and food preservation workshops
• Gardening and seed-saving education
• Hunting and fishing trips guided by knowledge keepers
• Food preparation and storage using shared equipment

These activities build practical skills while reinforcing cultural teachings. They also create opportunities for community members to support one another and share resources.

The result is stronger households with the tools and confidence to provide for themselves year-round.

Supporting Wellness Through Traditional Foods

Access to traditional foods plays an important role in overall well-being.

This program supports physical, mental, and emotional health by reconnecting people with the foods their families have relied on for generations. It also ensures that Elders are supported through the distribution of prepared food.

By focusing on traditional foods, the community is strengthening both individual wellness and collective resilience.

Building Self-Sufficiency for Future Generations

The impact of this program extends beyond immediate access to food.

By equipping families with tools, knowledge, and infrastructure, Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn Society is helping build long-term self-sufficiency. Community members are not only learning how to harvest and preserve food, but also how to sustain these practices in their daily lives.

This is what Indigenous food sovereignty looks like in action. Communities leading their own food systems, grounded in culture and supported by shared knowledge.

Supported Through the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Fund

This project was supported through the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Fund, which invests in community-led initiatives that strengthen traditional food systems, cultural knowledge, and long-term sustainability.

Through this support, communities across British Columbia are advancing their own approaches to food security and sovereignty in ways that reflect their values and priorities.