We are currently working with a co-op called the Downtown Eastside Indigenized Food Sovereignty Cooperative (DTES IFSC) in support of improving community food security and Indigenous food sovereignty. They have the support of the Vancouver Food Policy Council (VFPC) in their efforts to establish a physical space to support traditional food processing and Indigenous food sovereignty in the city.
Our research would look at the policy barriers and opportunities at the city level (these include health regulations about serving wild-harvested food and city zoning regulations about allowable activities in the proposed buildings) and the licensing options that currently exist. We are also supporting the DTES IFSC in identifying examples of successful Indigenous-led urban policy around traditional food processing and commercialization and their food security implications.