HONOURING THE LAND 

CRFAIR promotes healthy and sustainable food systems. This considers our relationships with each other, and the land and waters of this region.  We endeavour to honour the land and its treaties by strengthening our relationship and responsibilities to them. We live and work on unceded Coast Salish Territories*, specifically of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations here in the core area, the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations {W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱,(Tsawout) W̱SIKEM (Tseycum)} out on the Saanich Peninsula and Gulf Islands, to the west Sc'ianew (Beecher Bay), T’Sou-ke, and Pacheedaht, and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) and Pune’laxutth’ (Penelekut) Nations.

We envision a region where local, sustainable and healthy food is celebrated, abundant and central to the cultures, health and well-being of all residents. We work to mobilize and connect efforts to develop healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems in the Capital Region.

Photos from 2018 GoodFood Summit (Photos by: Mariah C)

W H A T W E D O? 

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NETWORK

CRFAIR acts as a regional backbone organization and offers a range of services to community organizations, government, and industry. We are proud of the growing Good Food Network in this region.

Our Network
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INITIATIVES

CRFAIR undertakes and incubates various initiatives. Currently we are involved in projects surrounding food and farm sector capacity building, farmland and foodland advocacy, healthy school food, food literacy, and Indigenous food sovereignty.

Learn more
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EVENTS

CRFAIR hosts events that connect and mobilize. This includes numerous roundtables and an annual conference called the Good Food Summit.

Upcoming Events

CRFAIR BELIEVES IN COLLECTIVE IMPACT.

 

Our belief in the power of Collective Impact for social change informs work that we do and shapes the strategies that we are using to achieve our objectives. The focus of CRFAIR as an organization is around two distinct but related spheres of activity:

  1. Provide Backbone Support for the Good Food Network

  2. Undertake high value, meaningful projects that are consistent with our Vision, Mission and Values

 
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Our Vision

A region where local, sustainable and healthy food is celebrated, abundant and central to the cultures, health and well-being of residents

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Our Mission

Mobilize and connect efforts to develop healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems in the Capital Region.

CRFAIR promotes healthy and sustainable food systems.  This considers our relationships with each other, and the land and waters of this region.  We endeavour to honour the land and its treaties by strengthening our relationship and responsibilities to them. We live and work on unceded Coast Salish Territories*, specifically of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations here in the core area, the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations {W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW̱,(Tsawout) W̱SIKEM (Tseycum)} out on the Saanich Peninsula and Gulf Islands, to the west Sc'ianew (Beecher Bay), T’Sou-ke, and Pacheedaht, and MÁLEXEȽ (Malahat) and Pune’laxutth’ (Penelekut) Nations.

The presence of settlers (non-Indigenous peoples who live on these lands) is not neutral; it has had and continues to have devastating impacts on many aspects of life for Indigenous peoples. Many of our practices, including the seeds we plant, the ways we educate, and our methods of growing food came to these lands through the ongoing process of colonialism. Settler colonialism has suppressed local well-being by harming Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ food systems, whether they be land-based or of the sky and sea. We hold this understanding in our interactions and engagements with this land and its people. 

There is important work being done by many nations and allies to ensure the continued thriving of these food systems, communities, and knowledge systems. Those of us who are settlers need to recognize that our knowledge and way of doing things may not be the priority as we work towards food security for everyone in this region.

* The term Coast Salish is used to encompass a number of Indigenous peoples, including Esquimalt, Hul’qumi’num, Klahoose, Lekwungen, MALAXEt, Musqueam, OStlq’emeylem, Pentlatch, Scia’new (Beecher Bay), Sliammon, Shishalh, Skxwú7mesh-ulh Úxwumixw, Stó:lo, Straits, Tsleil-Waututh, T’Sou-ke, W̱SÁNEĆ, and Xwemalhkwu.