Empty Tables Don't Exist in Our Food Systems

For Indigenous Peoples our communal values and collective ethics guide us to know that success is not measured by profit, but by how well we fulfill our responsibility to our people. Our teachings remind us that wealth is not meant to be hoarded; it is meant to be shared, circulated, and used to strengthen our communities. Because we are a successful Indigenous business does not mean we are above our people; it means we are even more responsible now to ensure our people are taken care of.

What Wealth Spreading Means to Us

Wealth spreading is rooted in our teachings and values of reciprocity, generosity, and collective well-being. It is the understanding that when Creator blesses us with abundance, it is not just for us, it is for our families, our neighbours, and those who could use the extra support. In our communities, wealth has never been about individual gain, but about how we lift each other up.

For us, this means:

Ensuring everyone eats. Whether it’s a large feast or a simple meal, no one should go hungry. Our occupation isn’t just a 9-5 job, it’s a calling. If Creator has given us another day to do this work, then we are indebted to do it with a good heart, and to feed our people.

Paying fair wages and supporting Indigenous workers. We hire from our communities, train our people, and pay them well because economic empowerment is part of wealth spreading.

Feeding those who can’t afford it. Even though food costs are high, we find ways, whether through sliding-scale pricing, trade, or gifting meals, because our responsibility is to use our occupation wisely.

Investing in families and future generations. When we charge higher rates to outside clients, it’s not just for profit, it’s so we can redistribute that wealth back into our communities through sponsorships, Youth programs, and supporting community initiatives.

Why We Charge Higher (And Why It’s Necessary)

Yes, our overhead is high. Food prices are rising, and running a business with insurance, equipment maintenance, fuel, etc. it is expensive. But when we charge higher to corporate clients or non-Indigenous customers, it’s not just about covering costs, it’s about leveraging outside resources to feed our own. Colonial systems have extracted from our communities for generations; wealth spreading is one way we reclaim balance.

The money we earn from these contracts allows us to:

• Feed our people at cost (or for free when needed).

• Support local Indigenous food harvesters and farmers.

• Sponsor community feasts, ceremonies, and gatherings.

• Create opportunities for other Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Our Success is Collective

We are not successful if our neighbours are hungry. We are not successful if our Youth don’t see a future. We are not successful if our Elders go without. True wealth is measured by the health of our people.

Every meal we serve is a prayer, every feast an act of resistance, and every dollar we earn is a tool for change. This is the work Creator has given us, not just to feed bodies, but to nourish spirits, rebuild our nations, and ensure that no one is left behind.

Because in the end, wealth is not what we keep, it’s what we give.

So, if your heart says yes to feeding more than just appetites, to honouring the hands that cook, the land that provides, and the generations coming after us, then pull up a chair at our table.

This work feeds our people, and when you feast with us, you become part of that good circle. But if this way of working doesn’t sit right with your spirit? No shame in that. Walk on with our good medicine, and find those who’ll meet you where you’re at. We only build what we can tend with both hands open, and that’s how you keep a fire burning right.

So join us at the table and become our cousin, we'll make sure the bannock’s warm and the tea is hot.

P.S. Love the movement, but can’t feast with us? Ask about our Community Table Fund, and sponsor a community meal, ceremony, or gathering.