Wild Game Access and Food Security in Alberta
On August 25, 2025, Prairie Food System Vision and the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) brought together public health professionals, Indigenous school food program leaders, mutual aid organizers, and food security advocates to discuss opportunities and challenges related to the safe inclusion of wild game in Alberta’s food system. The conversation focused on cultural relevance, food safety, legislative barriers, and models from both within and outside the province.
Key Themes from the Discussion
1. Fragmented but Growing Momentum
Multiple initiatives are underway across Alberta—such as the Familiar Foods Project (AHS) and community-led pilots—but they often operate in silos. Participants emphasized the need to connect these efforts into a coordinated approach to strengthen advocacy with the Government of Alberta.
Other provinces and territories (e.g., Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, and Ontario’s Sioux Lookout hospital) have successfully integrated wild game into institutions like hospitals, schools, and daycares, providing evidence that Alberta could move in a similar direction.
2. Food Safety and Public Health Considerations
Concerns were raised about past outbreaks (e.g., Calgary daycare incident), underlining the importance of clear food safety protocols.
Farmed and inspected game (e.g., bison) can already be served in facilities, but hunted wild game presents challenges because it cannot be inspected at the point of harvest.
Norma Bruins (Health Inspector) noted that risks largely arise from undercooked meat or fermentation/canning practices. Safe preparation, storage, and detailed food safety plans could mitigate many concerns.
Hospitals and seniors’ care homes were highlighted as both vulnerable populations and places of high demand for culturally relevant foods—making food safety standards critical.
3. Legislative and Policy Barriers
Under current Alberta rules, wild game can be gifted but not sold, bartered, or served in most institutions. Non-profits (e.g., food banks, shelters) can serve wild game, but hospitals and AHS facilities cannot.
Conflicting legislation (e.g., Food Regulation vs. Wildlife Act) creates confusion for communities and institutions. Recent amendments to the Wildlife Act now allow wild game at not-for-profit events, but AHS restrictions remain.
Participants agreed that legislative and policy change is required to enable broader, safe access to wild game in institutional and community settings.
4. Indigenous Food Sovereignty and Rights
Participants emphasized that wild game is not simply another cultural food, but a matter of Indigenous rights, self-determination, and holistic health (physical, spiritual, cultural).
The conversation also acknowledged the tension between Western food safety frameworks and Indigenous knowledge systems, and the need to bridge these perspectives.
5. Emerging Models and Innovations
Maskwacis Schools “WellMeat Program”: Provides monthly wild game meals (ground elk, moose) to 2,300 students, supported by elders, hunters, abattoirs, and external food safety testing. The program integrates land-based learning, cultural teachings, and rigorous handling protocols. schoolfood.ca
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council: Runs a hunter program with federal health authorities to develop processes for safe wild game use on reserve.
Emergency Management Lens: During mass evacuations (e.g., NWT wildfires, 2023), evacuees were often served unfamiliar foods. Participants noted the need for systems that respect traditional diets in emergency response.
Roadkill and Seizure Redistribution: Fish & Wildlife currently redistributes seized animals and, in some jurisdictions, roadkill—highlighting another potential source of protein for community programs.
Next Steps and Opportunities
Province-Wide Consultation: Expand engagement beyond pilot sites to gather feedback from communities, institutions, and Indigenous nations across Alberta.
Food Safety Plans: Co-develop accessible, culturally informed templates with Alberta Health Services and Indigenous knowledge keepers to support mutual aid groups, schools, and facilities.
Policy Advocacy: Push for legislative change to harmonize AHS regulations and the Wildlife Act, drawing on examples from other provinces and territories.
Pilot Programs: Scale and document initiatives like Maskwacis’ WellMeat program to demonstrate feasibility, safety, and community benefit.
Integration into Broader Food Justice Work: Connect wild game access with advocacy around urban agriculture, food hubs, and mutual aid networks already active in Edmonton and across Alberta.
The convening underscored that wild game access is both a food justice issue and a matter of rights and dignity. While significant barriers remain, there is strong momentum from grassroots groups, health professionals, and Indigenous leaders to advance policy, strengthen safety protocols, and re-establish wild game as a vital part of Alberta’s food system.
Resources
You can learn more about Prairie Food System Network https://www.prairiefoodsystemvision.org/ - they have six action areas. One of the action areas is diet https://www.prairiefoodsystemvision.org/diet
https://www.fnha.ca/Documents/Traditional_Food_Fact_Sheets.pdf
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal council have a hunter program and work with the federal EPH to come up with a process to allow it to be served. KTCEA... - Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council Education Authority | Facebook. This is on a First Nations reserve which has different legislation.
SEPTEMBER - Serving Traditional Foods in Schools This was a session from September 2024 from Keewatin Tribal Council (KTC) with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)
Nhfi_food_safety_for_first_nations_people_of_canada.pdf
Aboriginal Harvesting Rights - JFK Law
This session was one of numerous sessions to mobilize knowledge from the community to inform the work of the Food Security and Food Justice Edmonton Collaborative supported by the City of Edmonton Community Safety and Well-Being Grant.