This is the story of Hudson's Hope, a community in the northeast part of BC and the chosen home of the Rivers of the Peace Métis Chartered community, as told by two community members, Earlene and Joan.

“I think food is an important connection to all cultures, including Métis. It brings people together in community. It brings us out on the land. It makes us feel gratitude. It is extremely important to our identity as Métis people. The lack of connection to the land and our food attributes to health problems, including physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional.”

The Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC), Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Food Security administered a survey among Métis in 2022 titled, “Climate Change and Food Access Survey.” The survey aimed to understand how access to food is affecting Métis people in BC, especially as it relates to climate change and COVID-19, and was an effective tool to capture the voices of Métis people all across BC.

Overall, it showed that 82% of Métis rely on a personal vehicle for transportation to access food. And nearly 30% of Métis travel over 30 minutes (or 50 kilometres) to access nutritious foods. The survey revealed that 28% of Métis feel that lack of knowledge is the biggest barrier to canning and preserving foods. Cost of supplies was the second biggest barrier at 18%.

Where are we located?

The community of Hudson’s Hope is located on the banks of the Peace River in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Northeastern BC on unceded Treaty 8 territory. The area is home to a variety of wildlife like moose, bear and deer. Hudson’s Hope is located between Chetwynd, 60 km to the south, and Fort St. John, over 80 km to the north. Hudson’s Hope is home to about 850 year-round residents but fluctuates with industry workers and welcomes a transient workforce.

The community has experienced a population decline since the 1960s, when many workers from the construction of hydro-electric dams in the area, lived in the community. Today, hydro electricity production is still a main source of employment in the area as evidenced by the current development of a new dam. Forestry, agriculture, and oil and gas are also booming industries in the region.

Hudson’s Hope has a small but strong Métis population and traditional food practices are highly valued and can be seen in the food culture of the community.

Community services

Hudson’s Hope offers an array of community services and recreational facilities. There is an arena, outdoor swimming pool, playgrounds, skate park, tennis courts, and outdoor recreational opportunities including fishing and hunting.

Additionally, a public library, health centre, with an attached pharmacy and bank and post office are also available for the community members to use.

There is one school with 150 students from kindergarten to grade 12. Younger children aged 0 to 5 are welcome to attend a free, drop-in early learning program. There is also an access centre to a local college that focuses on energy-industry training as well as opportunities for personal and professional development via adult and continuing education.

Community services are growing. In September 2022, Métis Nation BC acquired land in Hudson’s Hope as an early step to establishing a Métis Chartered Community. This initiative will include new housing and services for the approximately 50 Métis individuals in the region.

Limited selection and high cost of food

Hudson’s Hope is challenged by a limited selection and high costs of foods. The community has one small grocery store that sells produce, meats and other food staples. While residents understand the limitations of running a small store, they expressed ongoing concern over lack of variety and spoiled or poor-quality food.

“Our family has been running into expired food issue, and low quality vegetables. I feel there is no oversight on the quality” (Earlene)

Costs of foods was also a major concern. “We've seen in the last year food cost rise extremely in our little community.” (Joan)

“...we basically drive to Fort St. John to try to access groceries, which is a lot cheaper than buying here locally in town.” (Earlene)

These food prices are attributed to a lack of market competition, combined with the ripple effect of nearby industry driving up the cost of living. As one interviewee described,

“Meat right now is terribly priced… I think part of it is because we don't have any other local grocery store here” (Joan)

Accessing market foods

To access lower prices and a better selection many residents choose to travel the almost hour and a half journey to Fort St. John every two weeks to a month. While Chetwynd is closer to the south, it is also a small community where prices are high and selection limited.

“Every two weeks, we go to Fort St. John, get maybe about $500 worth of groceries, almost $1000 to stock up and keep our staples.”

“We do try at least once a month to commute, the hour and 20 minutes to Fort St. John so we can shop places like Walmart and the wholesale club there.” (Joan)

This is in line with survey data from the MNBC that suggests that within the broader Métis community, nearly a third of Métis people travel over a half hour to access foods.

The trip to Fort St. John can be expensive or impossible for Hudson’s Hope community members who cannot afford to spend $500 - $1000 at one time. “So, they're sort of stuck buying the groceries here in town and it really hits their pocketbook because you're on fixed income right.” (Earlene)

While there have been road improvements recently, the journey to Fort St. John can be challenging with unpredictable weather and poor road conditions, even in the summer. Avalanches, hill slides, industry traffic and road accidents can all occur along this route. This sometime shuts down the road and disrupts the transport of food. Community members need to take road conditions into consideration when travelling to Fort St. John for food. This challenge disproportionately affects many elders who are on fixed income. Poor road conditions limit their ability to leave town for food, and so they have to pay higher prices in town.

“In the winter, we try to travel as little as possible… the road conditions are never great between Hudson’s Hope and Fort St. John. And then you have a lot of like isolated areas where if you were to hit the ditch, it could be a good half hour before anybody comes along.” (Joan)

Preserving, growing and gathering foods

Amid these challenges, food preservation was described as a necessity that allows residents to stretch bulk food supplies and reduces reliance on the local grocery store.

“I try to preserve and try to keep a good supply so I don't have to depend on this grocery store here.” (Earlene)

Hudson’s Hope residents are committed to preserving their local food culture. Opportunities to preserve foods supports Métis to continue a tradition of resourceful and traditional food practices. Residents described continuing to use skills that has been passed down to them from their elders.

“Mom saved all the food that she could. She taught me how to preserve… it's definitely a skill everybody needs to learn.” (Earlene)

As one interviewee described, some government restrictions apply when it comes to Métis folks engage with traditional food practices. Métis still need to obtain hunting licenses and tags to legally hunt and fish wildlife.

“It would be nice to have access to moose, industrial activity and overhunting has influenced our harvesting wild game.” (Earlene)

“It's hard for us because as a Métis, I still have to go and get a hunting license, a permit, I still have to draw tags, that kind of thing. So, that's a bit harder” (Joan)

To combat this, one interviewee explains that he chooses to buy meats from farmers, although with the caveat that it requires reliable food storage.

“We buy local beef off of local farmers. We've done that for a couple of years now just because I have ways, like I have freezers and stuff and I can store that beef or pork if I buy it locally, but I know that's really hard for some people, especially seniors” (Joan)

Many residents have multiple freezers to store food. This may be challenging for elders or those on a fixed income or with limited space, impacting their ability to keep food stocks at home.

Seasonally, hunting, fishing and harvesting can provide access to food from the land and local lakes and rivers. Residents described the important role seasonal harvesting, such as for mushrooms and berries, plays in their access to fresh food, as well as growing food in their gardens.

“...we harvest mushrooms in the spring, we're going to go out morel picking, and we do a lot of berry picking. We make jams and wines and all kinds of preserves with the berries. And We started doing my local berries, growing cherries and haskaps in my yard… And I raise rabbits… at least we have some meat” (Earlene)

In Hudson’s Hope, local food economies are small and limited seasonally, with some produce grown and sold locally during the summer.

One resident indicated she is hoping to build a year-round greenhouse to grow and sell produce, which could help increase market competition and bring down prices. At the time of the interview, she was in the process of completing a grant application for the greenhouse. This initiative could pave the way for a self-sustaining future where fresh produce is more accessible.

Community programs and community connections

Earlene and Joan described community programs, connections and people that are working to improve their community’s availability and access to food.

The community currently has a small bus operated by the Lions Club that supports elders going into Fort St. John once a month. Although they are limited to how much they can put on the bus and bring back home, this is an important service for the community.

A local food bank operated by “Friends of Hudson’s Hope” serves an average of 15 to 20 clients every two months; a fairly large number relative to the local population. Over time, more and more individuals access the food bank.

“We've seen an increase in the food bank and then the use of the food bank which is a big thing. So, you know there's families out there that are struggling cost wise to provide food for their families just because of the cost in general.” (Joan)

Métis identity is heavily connected with food and land. Sharing, gathering, and connecting over food is an integral part of the culture. A participant of the MNBC survey shared that:

“[The relation between food and Métis identity] is an important part of our culture. The dining room was where planning and business took place usually over dinner. Métis people are rooted in sharing their resources with each other during winter months, providing for one another. Food is a central pillar to Métis culture and identity.” (MNBC Survey respondent)

It is difficult for the community to uphold traditional food practices when they are focused on finding appropriate and affordable foods. When people have trouble accessing food in general, it disrupts their connection to their food.

In Hudson’s Hope, community-driven initiatives demonstrate what can be achieved with the shared goal of improving food access and cultivating a community. Local gardeners connect with one another over Facebook to share seeds and swap produce. A local Mennonite family contributes by providing affordable chickens into the community. Some residents also trade with local First Nations community members for items like produce and fish.

Industry is changing the landscape and access to foods

While local industries offer employment for several residents, community members described community concern over the impact of extractive industries on wildlife populations, such as moose. Fishing spots are compromised, and concerns over the safety of eating fish due to contaminants is limiting consumption.

“...you know, for years and years, I grew up on moose meat. That that was one of our staples my whole entire life, and I don't think I've had moose meat now in just about 2-3 years.” (Joan)

“We're kind of scared to fish. We used to depend a lot on fish growing up. From what we're being told, the Mercury's level going up in our fish.” (Joan)

Changing climate impacts on food

Like many other rural and remote communities across the province, Hudson’s Hope is grappling with the disruptive impacts of recent climate events on access to local and traditional foods. Last year, the community was evacuated due to a major wildfire in the area that resulted in evacuation for a week. Sweltering summer heat makes going outside difficult, and water restrictions limit gardening.

“...last year, with the huge fire we had. We lost tons and tons of forests, so finding the animals that we rely on for food is quite a challenge.” (Joan)

Winters are no better, bringing greater fluctuations in temperature and impacting the ice cover of lakes for fishing.

While challenges are evident, there are glimpses of opportunity amid climate change. One resident noted that climate change may provide some benefits, such as the ability to grow different things that were not able to grow in the past. Moreover, the Métis community strongly values sharing resources with one another.

As one MNBC survey respondent stated:

“... Métis people are rooted in sharing their resources with each other during winter months, providing for one another. Food is a central pillar to Métis culture and identity.” (MNBC Survey respondent)

Hopes for the Future

The Stories Project Team, BC Centre for Disease Control Food Security Team and the Project Advisory Committee would like to sincerely thank the two residents of Hudson’s Hope who shared their stories and experiences and the contributions of Métis Nation BC.

For more information about the Food Costs and Climate Change Stories from Remote Communities in British Columbia Project, please email: foodsecurity@bccdc.ca

Illustrator: Moe Butterfly