In 2022, the community of Gespeg took an important step thanks to the support of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF). With the financial support obtained from this fund, the community was able to invest in the equipment necessary for the operation of their cold storage facility, a key element for transforming and enhancing products from community hunting and fishing.
What is the LFIF?
The Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) plays a key role in strengthening food security in communities across the country. By supporting local projects, this program aims to increase access to nutritious, local and culturally appropriate foods.
The goal is clear: to equip and support initiatives that make a real difference with a special emphasis on ensuring equity for certain groups, including Indigenous and Black communities, using a concrete approach to building more just and inclusive food systems.
A warehouse in service of traditions
To promote community hunting and fishing products, the community of Gespeg has invested in specialized equipment adapted to their needs. With the support of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF), they acquired hooks, a post and a chain hoist—known as a chain block—to hoist the game in order to skin it and then bring the meat to the refrigeration rooms so that it can age in optimal conditions while placed on the hooks. In addition to this equipment, everything needed for safe cutting has been secured: gloves, bins, cutting table, sink, and so on.
To further improve the quality of the products, the cold storage facility has also been equipped with a meat grinder, a vacuum packaging machine and a smoker, which plays a key role in perpetuating an ancestral Mi’gmaq tradition: preserving fish by smoking it.
Beyond its tools, this cold storage facility has helped strengthen traditional knowledge while meeting the community’s food needs. Elders now benefit from better quality products with a longer shelf life, which gives them sustainable access to nutritious food.
In addition, this facility has boosted the local economy by creating a job for a butcher and increasing the volume of processed game, thanks to a successful partnership with the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, which allows the recovery of seized animals that are added to those harvested during the community hunt.
This strategic investment is not limited to infrastructure: it is part of a broader vision of cultural preservation and sustainable development for the entire community.
Towards new projects for a sustainable future
The next call for projects from the Local Food Infrastructure Fund will be held from January 13 to February 28, 2025.
Designed to support ambitious initiatives, this funding cycle will target large-scale projects with amounts between $150,000 and $500,000. However, it is important to note that, while this fund facilitates the launch of structuring initiatives, it does not cover their long-term maintenance. Applicants must therefore plan a sustainable strategy to finance any renovations and ensure the sustainability of their projects.
This opportunity is part of a broader movement led by First Nations across the province: projects that strengthen their food autonomy while promoting their rich traditional know-how. These initiatives do not just respond to immediate needs; they build the foundations for a future where tradition and modernity meet in the service of collective well-being.
Do you also want to make a difference in your community? If so, then explore the possibilities offered by the LFIF! Contact the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission team, which can help you prepare your application for 2025.
