A grassroots initiative to help First Nations urban youth become socially involved in food sovereignty issues related to traditional food systems. We are a 100% First Nation’s social enterprise. 

Knowledge and awareness of one’s own culture is fundamental to holistic health and well-being. Smolts promotes intergenerational community building, providing a vehicle for youth empowerment and resilience. The project provides space for youth leadership development in a non-judgmental environment that allows the opportunity for expression of their voice, while providing a hands-on learning experience around indigenous food sovereignty.

why is this project important?

According to the First Nations Health Authority, Healthy Food Guidelines For First Nations Communities, "Many challenges now exist for First Nations who wish to access traditional foods. The land and water have experienced changes that now limit the ability to access adequate amounts of our traditional foods. At the same time, our lives have been widely influenced by an abundance of processed, commercially influenced food sources and lack of access to nutritious whole foods".

Target audience 

The term – urban Indigenous peoples – refers primarily to First
Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals currently residing in urban areas.
According to 2011 Census data, off-reserve Indigenous people constitute the fastest growing segment of Canadian society. In 2011, 56% of Indigenous peoples lived in urban areas, up from 49% in 1996. That’s a 7% increase over 14 years.

Source: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada