The Government of Canada has announced more than $2 million in funding for nine Indigenous-led projects under the second phase of Nutrition North Canada’s Food Security Research Grant. Announced on March 26, 2026, by Minister Rebecca Chartrand, the funding will support research focused on food security and food access inequality in isolated northern communities. The initiative aims to strengthen local food systems by centering Indigenous leadership, traditional knowledge, and community priorities in efforts to address long-standing barriers to affordable and nutritious food in the North.
The funded projects will explore practical ways to improve access to healthy and culturally appropriate food in northern communities. Research will examine how food is transported, owned, and sold, and how these systems influence food quality, availability, and cost. The projects will also assess how hunting, fishing, and local sharing networks can support access to both traditional foods and store-bought items, with the goal of identifying community-based solutions that can improve resilience and strengthen Indigenous food sovereignty.
This new funding comes in addition to a recently announced $30 million top-up for Nutrition North Canada, which is intended to make nutritious food and essential goods more affordable in 124 isolated northern communities through shipping subsidies. The latest announcement was made during the Nutrition North Canada Food Sovereignty Summit, supported by Food Banks Canada, which brought together Indigenous leaders, community representatives, researchers, non-profits, industry partners, and federal officials to discuss northern and Indigenous food sovereignty and develop practical recommendations for stronger food systems.
The government said the research will help inform future policy interventions aimed at reducing food insecurity and improving food ecosystems and local economies across the North. Nutrition North Canada currently supports 124 isolated communities across several provinces and territories, and most of these communities are also eligible for the Harvesters Support Grant. The Food Security Research Grant is being delivered in two phases, with Phase 1 investing $1.5 million in five projects between 2022 and 2025, and Phase 2 now providing over $2 million for nine projects running from 2025 to 2028.
