IFEAST 2026

Program Outline

    • Training Living Allowance: Pay is $18/hr for up to 6 hours per day for unsupported clients. We expect Nation partners to cover this cost.

    • Accommodations provided for trainees coming from outside the region.

    • Work Experience Pay: Up to $20/hr for trainees who graduate and successfully apply for work experience.

    • Rides to and from are offered in the local area. Trainees must be at the pickup location on-time.

    • Meals: Free breakfast snacks and lunch provided on-site!

    • Mental health: Free in-person therapy sessions available weekly for all participants.

    • Daily peer counselling and support from instructors, mentors, and staff.

  • All trainees will be working on an active work site. Training includes:

    • Daily safety training,

    • Workplace inter-personal communication training,

    • Workplace preparedness,

    • PPE training,

    • Time tracking, rights of workers, much more.

    Trainees who have little to no work experience will be asked to join the program in April to allow time to adjust to workplace schedules and expectations.

  • Trainees will choose one of the following three groups for dedicated training:

    • Professional Cook, with our Indigenous Red Seal Chef.

      • Learn all the practical skills including cleaning, planning, cooking, and serving. Learn to cook with seasonal and traditional foods. Trainees will be part of a team that prepares and serves meals daily on the farm.

    • Carpentry and Construction Science with our Red Seal Carpenter.

      • Learn essential Carpentry and Construction site skills including safety, cleaning, hand tools, power tools, design, planning, cutting and fastening, and building science. Trainees will work to accomplish farm construction goals, and also be prepared to work on construction sites. Training will also include an introduction to heavy machinery.

    • Agriculture and Farm Trades training with our professional farmer and Red Seal Machinist.

      • Learn essential skills for working on a farm including planning, soil science, seeds, starts, planting, weed management, global best practices, watering, and harvesting. Also learn supporting skills like small engine repair, mechanical maintenance, warehousing, 3d printing, heavy machine operation, irrigation, and more.

    This training will include but not be limited to introductory Level 1 training in each trade. Because groups are small, instruction often extends beyond Level 1 topics. Trainees will be given a specific outline once they are on-site.

    Introductions to other trades will be offered such as: electrical, plumbing, warehouse management, painting, heavy machine operation, and more!

  • Our goal is to fully prepare trainees as much as possible for work, self-employment, and further education. To support this, we offer the following additional training:

    • Computer and device use support

    • Safe operation of vehicles

    • Driver’s training and support to get your driver’s license

    • Workplace/ household cleaning/ janitorial skills

    • Introduction to money, finances, bookkeeping and budgeting

    • Food Safe ticket

    • First Aid ticket

    • Assistance with cover letters and Resumés

  • All Trainees must commit to getting a job, starting their own business, or enrolling in further training in order to participate.

    Jobs will be available on -site for all graduates of IFEAST, but each applicant must successfully apply for those jobs. Jobs will include:

    • 2 Kitchen Jobs

    • 2 Farmer Jobs

    • 2-4 Carpenter Jobs

    We also can support applications to any of our partner employers. We can also offer support in applying for post-secondary training elsewhere.

Indigenous-led Foodlands Employment Apprenticeship Skills Training, located at Tea Creek.

  • Paid Work Training and practical interviews April 3 - May 8

  • Paid Main Training intensives May 11 - July 3rd

  • On-Site Paid Jobs in Farming, Cooking, and Carpentry July - October (successful graduates only)

Learn from Red Seal tradespeople and experienced instructors in small groups at Tea Creek!

Applicants must be:

  • Indigenous Canadians (First Nations, Inuit, Metis)

  • 18+ years old and a resident of BC

  • Unemployed or under-employed (making less than $52,000/ year)

  • Not currently a full-time student in highschool or
    post-secondary, and not currently receiving financial support from another provincially or federally funded labour market program

Seating is very limited.
Successful applications will be subject to a practical interview
and assessment.

If you have any questions please send us an email.

Photos from IFEAST 2025