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Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs

Northern Healthy Foods Initiative (NHFI)

Mandated by the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, the Northern Food Prices Report 2003 recommended ways to reduce the cost of accessing affordable nutritious foods in northern and remote Manitoba communities.

Implementation and Delivery

Northern Healthy Food Initiative

The Northern Healthy Foods Initiative (NHFI) primary focus is food self sufficiency. Objectives are as follows:

  • To support and promote local food self-sufficiency activities in Northern Manitoba (garden initiatives, greenhouse projects, community foods program and food business development);
  • To assist Northern Manitobans to make healthier food choices and to make these foods more available;
  • To stimulate economic development and diversification that will improve the quality of the Northern Manitoba food system; and
  • To demonstrate new approaches to improving food accessibility in Northern Manitoba.

NHFI is administered and managed by Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, and receives assistance and guidance with overseeing the initiative from the NHFI Management Committee comprised of representatives from various Manitoba government departments and agencies including:

Service Delivery Model

Northern Healthy Food Initiative

Food security projects being delivered in northern and remote communities by community-based organizations.

Regional partners include:

In addition to the regional partners the Initiative works closely with Frontier School Division to implement a plant, food science and nutrition curriculum – Veggie Adventures and the Northern Grow Program.

Communities in the North

The initiative targets all the communities within the Aboriginal and Northern Affairs boundary including First Nations, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs communities and municipalities. The NHFI supports a variety of northern healthy food and security related initiatives with northern regional partners.

Intergral Partnerships

Northern Healthy Food Initiative

Integral to the success of the initiative are partnerships and linkages made with non government organizations. Examples of these include: Keewatin Tribal Council, Perimeter Aviation Ltd., Via Rail, Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg Harvest, Heifer International and Peak of the Market. Relationships have also been developed with the Burntwood, Parkland and NOR-MAN Regional Health Authorities, The Rural Secretariat – Government of Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health, Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines (Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund), Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba and municipal governments, such as the City of Thompson.

Celebrate Successes

Each community based organization is unique and has succeeded in delivering NHFI programs to increase the supply and reduce the cost of nutritious food in the north, while reducing health risks associated with poor diet. NHFI food security and local food production projects meeting needs in upwards of 70 communities include:

Northern Healthy Food Initiative
  • Gardening materials and equipment
  • Revolving Loan Freezer Purchase Program
  • Greenhouses, seeds and bedding plants
  • School nutrition programming
  • Nutrition awareness
  • Educational workshops and conferences
  • Livestock production
  • Traditional fishing, hunting and gathering
  • Food preservation
  • Composting

Other projects supported that promote food security include:

Related information:

  1. 2003 Northern Food Price Report
  2. Press Releases
  3. Potato Gardening pdf
  4. Soils in the North pdf
  5. Veggie Plant pics pdf
  6. Fruit Crops pdf
  7. Basic Gardening Manual pdf
  8. Garden Manual for Northern Manitoba pdf
  9. Northern Healthy Foods Initiative Brochure  ( .pdf / 44 KB )
  10. The Basics of Home Canning  ( .pdf / 1,009 KB )
  11. Cold Storage for Vegetables  ( .pdf / 998 KB )
  12. Basic of Freezing Foods and Freezers  ( .pdf / 824 KB )
  13. Northern Agricultural Program Brochure  ( .pdf / 345 KB )
  14. NHFI Boundary Map  ( .pdf / 239 KB )
Northern Healthy Food Initiative

Northern Healthy Foods Initiative

The NHFI supports local and regional projects that contribute to improving the availability, whether through lower prices, improved quality, or greater access, of nutritious food in Northern Manitoba. Additionally, the NHFI seeks to educate and support Northern Manitobans to make healthy choices in their selection of food. Projects must be ecologically sound, promote a sustainable approach, demonstrate clear community benefits and take into account the need for individuals to gain greater knowledge and control over their local food system. For more information see NHFI application and guidelines.

Northern Healthy Foods Initiative: Guidelines & Application  ( .pdf / 73 KB )

Aboriginal Procurement Initiative

To support Manitoba's growing Aboriginal population and expand the entrepreneurial sector, the Northern Healthy Foods Initiative encourages project proponents to utilize the Manitoba Aboriginal Procurement Initiative (API) in their project delivery. The API is designed to increase the participation of Aboriginal businesses in providing goods and services. For more information on the API and to find a listing of Aboriginal Business Directory please visit: http://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/psb/api/ab_proc.html

General Contact

Jennell Majeran
Manager
Northern Healthy Foods Initiative
Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs
Box 20-59 Elizabeth Drive
Thompson MB R8N 1X4
Phone: 204-677-6677
Fax: 204-677-6525