For many years, Tribal Citizens have expressed the need for a dedicated facility to process and preserve traditional foods in a way that reflects cultural practices and supports expanding harvest rights. With the restoration of the Tribe’s ceremonial and subsistence harvesting authority in 2024, the importance of this facility has become even more clear.

The Indigenous Food Processing Haws will provide a safe, efficient, and culturally appropriate space for cleaning, processing, preserving, and storing traditional foods. The approximately 4,000 sq. ft. facility (subject to change and contingent on funding) is being designed to support current and future harvest levels, including a variety of game species, fish, and other culturally important foods. It will offer flexible preservation methods such as freezing, refrigeration, smoking, and canning.

The facility will be located north of the Plankhouse kitchen at Kilkich, connecting easily with existing cultural and community spaces and supporting education related to traditional foods and harvesting traditions.