About Our Sustenance
Our Sustenance is a community based social enterprise supported by a number of community organizations. Our Sustenance is dedicated to providing resources and programming to Six Nations community members in relation to garden production, food storage, healthy lifestyles, self-care, and traditional Haudenosaunee knowledge/values.
History of Our Sustenance
Our Sustenance began in 2011 as a result of information gathered from the community, and captured in the Six Nations Community Plan. It was the vision of the Community Planning department to develop a farmer’s market and community garden where people would be able to buy reasonably priced food in the community. Our Sustenance has been growing ever since then.
Our Sustenance began as a pilot project in 2012, during this time the program was administered by the Economic Development Department of Six Nations Council from 2011-2015. Throughout this period, members of the Our Sustenance team fundraised to keep the initiative going while seeking grants to help cover employee wages and program costs.
Through the use of these grants, help from Six Nations Council, and other funding sources, Our Sustenance was able to continue operation and gain momentum with the community.
In May 2015 when the Six Nations Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC) was formalized, Our Sustenance became a permanent department under the umbrella of SNGRDC and was given a forever home, and access to more stable funding.
As of March 2020, the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC) is working collaboratively with the Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council (SNGR) to develop a transition plan that is mutually agreed upon by both parties to divest this asset back under the direction of SNGR. Our Sustenance is anticipated to be back under the operations of SNGR by June 2020.