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Economic Development

Country Foods Program

The Country Foods Program operates all year round providing country foods to elders and others in the community.

Seasonal workers do all the manual labour in the distribution centre and the Leftrook Lake facilities, including cleaning, smoking, dressing, weighing and handling all wild foods.

The gathering and distribution of country foods is based on the species the season provides. The variety of species depends on the daily/weekly and seasonal operation and implementation of the programs. During the spring season, local members are involved in a variety of activities in gathering wild foods. In the winter, caribou is hunted further north of Nelson House.

During the spring, individuals and groups take part in the goose and duck hunting program. Where possible, seasonal staff members are encouraged to do most of the hunting. The program provides transportation costs and equipment supplies to individuals and groups for these wild food gatherings, after they have donated the wild foods to the Centre.

  • The Community Gardens Program operates in the summer months when the gathering of wild foods is limited to berries, i.e. raspberries, blueberries, cranberries.
  • The Distribution Centre provides all the equipment for dressing, cleaning/weighing and storage of wild meats, using its own cutting equipment, meat grinder, sausage maker and refrigeration units.
  • The facilities at Leftrook Lake include five cabins, a new cooking cabin and a teepee for special learning/teaching of traditional Cree Culture. The program provides equipment, food supplies, transportation costs for First Nation members that travel to Leftrook. The traditional tanning of moose, caribou and elk hides is provided by the program. The proper use of equipment, i.e. boat/motor, Skidoos, generators, gas stove, lamps, chainsaws, sleds and other miscellaneous items is mandatory.

The Country Foods Program has procedures and guidelines to regulate and redistribute wildlife and its products to members of the community. It also provides assistance to Members who wish to offer their hunting expertise and skills to provide country foods to those who are incapable of providing wild food for themselves.

 

NCN Trust