Donate to Indigenous Communities in Canada

Why is there food insecurity in Canada?

According to Statistics Canada, food insecurity affects 1.15 million -- or one in six -- Canadian children under age 18. That number has been on the rise since 2007.

Household food insecurity is strongly linked to poverty in Canada. Seventy per cent of households who rely on social assistance in Canada are food insecure. But it also greatly affects a significant portion of the Canadian workforce. Sixty per cent of food-insecure households rely on wages and salaries as their main source of income. Families working low-wage jobs simply can’t earn enough to put good food on the table.

Why are Indigenous communities hit harder by food insecurity?

It is estimated that 78 per cent of Indigenous households have difficulty putting enough food on the table.

Indigenous communities in Canada face significant and ongoing challenges since European colonizers arrived on Indigenous territories. The loss of land rights, outlawing of Indigenous practices and languages, and discrimination towards Indigenous people have perpetuated a food insecurity crisis with serious implications for health and well-being.

The legacy of residential schools, where children were taken forcibly from their homes, is just one example of the deliberate destruction of Indigenous culture, language and identity.

These injustices have been compounded by the ongoing loss of rights to traditional territories and resources, and public opinion, laws and regulations that continue to make engaging in traditional practices difficult, and put significant pressure on Indigenous hunting and fishing.

With the loss of traditional food access and practices, many Indigenous families turn to commercial grocery stores where they are often met with high prices for nutritious food, particularly in remote areas. Without significant economic opportunity, or benefit from traditional territories’ natural resources, the cycle of poverty and food insecurity is difficult to overcome.

What is CFTC doing to increase food security for Indigenous communities?

Canadian Feed The Children has been working with partner Indigenous communities across Canada for almost 30 years. We have long standing partnerships with 30 Indigenous communities in Canada. Our Indigenous partners take the lead on programming and regularly work together towards increasing food security, community resilience and traditional knowledge through land-based education, ancestral gathering methods and community food work.

Where will my donation go?

When you donate to Indigenous Communities in Canada, funds are distributed to our Indigenous partners to those who need it most. Your donation will be used towards good food boxes that deliver healthy food to households and ensure children have enough to eat. As well, donations will be used to support local initiatives such as community gardens and traditional fishing and hunting, which supplement food supplies during these difficult times. Donations will also go towards helping our partners provide the high demand of school breakfasts and lunches.

What are my payment options?

You can make an online donation to CFTC using MasterCard, Visa, American Express or PayPal. You can also donate by calling 1-800-387-1221 between 9am – 5pm EST, Monday to Friday.

Can I 'designate' my donation to a specific country?

Yes. The online donation form gives you the option to designate your donation to one of our five countries of operation in Bolivia, Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana or Uganda.

How can I stay up-to-date on the impact of my donation?

We invite you to listen to our new podcast, First Comes Food, where we explore the surprising ways communities are feeding children and families in the face of a global food crisis. Donors also receive our monthly eNewsletter highlighting the latest success stories ‘from the field’. You can also come online whenever you like to read our blog or download donor publications.

Will I receive a tax receipt for my charity donation?

Yes, all charity donations to CFTC are tax receipted. When you donate online, you will receive an immediate charitable tax receipt in PDF format by email. When you donate by phone, you can choose to receive an electronic receipt or have one mailed to you, usually within two weeks. Canadian Feed The Children’s charitable registration number is 11883 0983 RR0001. See the Government of Canada’s policy statement for charitable tax receipts for more information about charity tax receipts.

Is Canadian Feed The Children affiliated with a specific religion?

Canadian Feed The Children has no religious affiliation. While we may work with local partners who are affiliated with a specific religion, we are dedicated to helping children regardless of their race, religion or gender.

Does Canadian Feed The Children belong to a 'parent' organization?

Canadian Feed The Children was founded in Canada in 1986 as an independent international development agency and we still remain that way today.