Supporting Thriving Native Food Systems at the EFOD UnConference

October 16, 2026

First Nations’ Native Agriculture and Food Systems Investments team was honored this summer to participate in the annual UnConference uplifting Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD), a community-anchored development strategy centering Black-, Indigenous-, and People of Color-led food and agriculture projects and enterprises as vehicles for self-determination, shared power, cultural expression, and community asset-building. The event engaged community leaders, organizers, farmers, food sovereignty advocates, and practitioners in strengthening relationships and exploring approaches to building wealth, self-determination, and resilience.

First Nations has partnered with EFOD since 2023, examining how many Native-led food and community development initiatives define wealth not solely through revenue, growth, or profit, but through cultural continuity, land stewardship, community knowledge, tribal governance, and relationships that sustain people over time. The collaboration has provided a powerful framework and network for recognizing and communicating forms of wealth that traditional funding and evaluation systems often overlook.