Planning for Food Security for Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) Community

Overview

The Nisichawayasi Nehetho Culture and Education Authority in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, are seeking a qualified consultant or consulting firm to undertake a study and create a feasibility report that identifies how bison/similiar, bees, and locally grown produce can enhance food security in the NCN community through entrepreneurial, economic and environmental resilience.

The report will position NNCEA to better understand the food security needs of the community and potential opportunities and barriers to growing the bison/similar, produce and maintain aspects of food security in Nisichawayasihk for years to come.

Background

The Nisichawayasi Nehetho Culture and Education Authority (NNCEA) is a First Nations School system located in Nelson House, MB on the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. Nelson House is accessible by Highway 391 just northwest of Thompson, MB. NNOC is part of the education authority and caters to students in grades 7 to 12.

Our Indigenous education system existed before Europeans arrived and before the signing of Treaties. In 1981 local control of education was regained in Nelson House. Today, we are working toward re-Indigenizing our education system with our values and beliefs while still recognizing the western knowledge systems. Since 1981 our educational system has progressed and we have accomplished many milestones. Our unique needs and attention to language and culture ensures the education is not just a duplication of the Provincial School Systems. These accomplishments have set in motion a positive direction and will allow for the necessary changes in the future.

NNCEA is committed to creating a vibrant, productive and motivating environment for students, staff and parents. NCN’s education system is consistent with our traditions, laws, customs, culture and philosophy, while providing students with a high standard of education that prepares them to meet today’s challenges.

Current Services

NCN, as a Northern Indigenous community with some economic opportunities and employment, experiences current and projected food insecurity. This is not unique to NCN, as many Indigenous communities face similar barriers and obstacles related to food security and sustainability. Industry and climate change have affected the local hunting and trapping environment, and the legacy of residential schools has impacted the transfer traditional food knowledge in the community.

NNCEA’s school pantry program is a vital support for families at times when food in their own households is scarce. The program has seen an increase of use since the COVID-19 pandemic. During it’s inception, the pantry mostly included dry and canned goods, that are not always the healthiest option. In response to both demands, and in an effort to offer fresher, healthier options, the school has been actively working towards local solutions to feed the community and increase economic opportunities. The established community garden and bee program is growing more robust each year and is being led by the school.

There is a need to expand the farming/harvesting efforts, and to search for affordable and culturally relevant protein options. While some traditional foods are integrated into the program, the need far exceeds the availability of protein sources. The community seems to be very interested in acquiring a bison herd.

By working collaboratively with an expert who will research how bison, bees, and locally grown produce (both seasonal beds and greenhouse growing) can enhance food security through entrepreneurial, economic and environmental resilience in the NCN community, NCN will better understand the benefits, costs, sustainability plan, and risks for each area of interest for our community. This will lay the foundation for strategic, culturally-relevant, feasible strategies for NCN’s food security programs in the coming years.

Focus for this project

NNCEA  would like to better understand how bison/similar, bees, and locally grown produce can enhance food security through entrepreneurial, economic and environmental resilience in the NCN community.

Entrepreneurial resilience: We are seeking to understand whether our activities, as they expand, can create individual jobs that employ our people, and how those jobs might be funded.

Economic resilience: We are seeking to understand how production and sales of products such as honey, honey by-products, bison or bison meat, or other farm products could support the ongoing operation of our food security efforts. What scale of production would need to be reached to create an economic opportunity for the community.

Environmental resilience: NCN has both a deep commitment to traditional ways that have sustained the community for generations, and a respect for modern and western expectations and laws of food production. What could be done to ensure for sustainable and ethical approaches to the food production in our community?

We expect that the proponent would share their methodology of how to gather the needed information to address these needs and questions through their process. This could include research, case studies, interviews, or other methods. A strong economic lens will be required to understand the possible scenarios for entrepreneurial and economic resilience.

Expected Deliverables

At the end of the project, NNCEA expects to receive a comprehensive, clear report on the overall feasibility of scaling up our food security initiative. This should include:

  • An economic feasibility assessment for both entrepreneurial and economic growth
  • Options for funding the ongoing operations/scaling up the operations
  • Examples of other northern or remote communities who have undertaking seasonal gardening and greenhouse gardening, apiary, and bison programs and how they achieved success
  • A high-level review of any potential environmental concerns with our current and potential activities

Proposal format

The proposal should include the following elements:

  • Understanding of the project
  • Statement of qualifications for the contractor or team
  • Summaries of similar projects completed by the contractor or team
  • Methodology and approach
  • Clear breakdown of costs
  • Suggested timeline
  • Reference from two similar projects

Please note that the budget for this project should not exceed $20,000, and that work done for NNCEA is GST exempt.

Submission information

Submissions to this Request for Proposals should be sent via email in PDF format to Sherene Bell (shereneb@nncea.ca) by Friday, September 25, 2026 at 5:00 CT.  Proposals will be reviewed by October 23, 2026. We may contact groups for a brief interview before the final selection is made.

Questions can be directed to Kirsten Earl McCorrister (kirsten@kemconsulting.ca) no later than September 18, 2026.