September is here and we can feel that crisp autumn air and the promise of a new winter just around the corner. This fall, we’re launching a new initiative here in Winnipeg, called Niriqatiginnga.

Niriqatiginnga means “come eat with me” in Inuktitut.

It’s being designed to explore northern food security and shipping using the arts and cultural entrepreneurship. We’re really excited for this upcoming journey and we’ve built our niriqatiginnga.ca web site as a way to help connect and spread the word.

Using a fusion of traditional knowledge exchange, innovative technologies, and arts entrepreneurship, we hope Niriqatiginnga will also be able to support new collaborations to address pressing issues of food security across northern communities.

Elements of this program have been piloted and tested over the last three years, supported by the US National Science Foundation, the ArcticNet Network Centre of Excellence, the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse, Global Dignity Canada, Chocolatier Constance Popp, and Manitoba Arts Council’s Indigenous 360 Program. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Arctic Buying Company Winnipeg, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Arts Entrepreneurship Program, Live It Earth Productions and the Labovitz School of Business and Economics at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Niriqatiginnga: A Framework for Change

In today’s blog post, we’ll dive into the overarching goals and objectives of Niriqatiginnga and explore the potential impact it holds for the communities we serve.

Niriqatiginnga’s mission is to tackle food insecurity with northern and Indigenous communities head-on. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, it is a community-based, participatory research initiative that is being developed by community for community. This is an ambitious project for our team, but we feel we are set to make a difference. Our project has already been engaging with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including farmers, food producers, systems innovators, government policy workers, local businesses and universities like the University of Minnesota Duluth, Arctic Buying Company and Chocolatier Constance Popp.

Niriqatiginnga is being designed as a flexible framework, allowing for a variety of activities and mini-projects to coexist and complement each other. This framework’s core principles revolve around three vital pillars:

• Cultural Preservation: Niriqatiginnga recognizes the importance of preserving cultural heritage through food. Traditional knowledge exchange will play a pivotal role in supporting the unique culinary traditions of northern communities, while seeking ways to address food insecurity.
• Food Literacy: Education is key, and our Niriqatiginnga project is committed to enhancing food literacy. By empowering individuals with knowledge about food systems, and early career exposure and skills development, our project aims to empower communities and families to make informed choices about their food.
• Economic Reconciliation through Entrepreneurship: Niriqatiginnga is not just about addressing immediate food security needs but also creating sustainable economic opportunities. Entrepreneurship is a path toward self-reliance, and our Niriqatiginnga project seeks to foster economic reconciliation through innovative approaches.

The project is planned to unfold in at least three distinct phases:

You can learn more about our ongoing consultations and engagement in our September 2023 project update.

Phase One: Towards A Framework for Northern Food Systems Innovation
This first phase is all about planning and designing Niriqatiginnga. It has been in the planning stages for a few months now, but is gearing up to start in late September-October 2023. This first phase of the project lays the foundation for subsequent activities, drawing insights from diverse stakeholders.

Phase Two: The Art of Canning for Cultural Entrepreneurship
Scheduled for the winter of early 2024, this pilot component of Niriqatiginnga will introduce “The Art of Canning and Food Preservation” to urban Indigenous Winnipeg artists and community members. It’s an exciting step toward merging tradition with entrepreneurship. These activities will be experimental, and see a cross-cultural group coming together. We will explore ways to make these workshops both entertaining and educational.

Phase Three: Cultural Entrepreneurship and Food Sector Training
Winter and spring 2024 will bring the third phase, building upon the success of earlier initiatives. It promises curriculum enhancements, expanded hands-on training, and early career exploration opportunities. This part of the project is still being planned, and will be co-designed by the wider group and project team once we re-start regular project meetings in the fall.

Get Involved with Niriqatiginnga

As we watch the seasons change, Niriqatiginnga offers not only solutions to food security, but also a vision for long-term economic sustainability and cultural preservation in northern communities.

We are thankful to our partners and supporters at the Arctic Buying Company, Chocolatier Constance Popp and the University of Minnesota Duluth for supporting our Niriqatiginnga project and its participating students and youth, community artists, researchers and aspiring cultural entrepreneurs.

Your support and participation can make a significant difference in Niriqatiginnga’s mission. If you’re eager to learn more about the project or are interested in contributing to its success, don’t hesitate to reach out to Niriqatiginnga at niriqatiginnga@gmail.com.

We’re looking for collaborators, researchers and artists who would like to join in shaping and designing the program.

Stay tuned for more updates as our transformative journey unfolds.