Programs & Services
Inchelium Red Garlic Revitalization Coalition
In partnership with Tribal-led organizations, Blue Sky Minds (BSM) co-leads the revitalization of Inchelium Red Garlic, a culturally important local Indigenous food. The program supports Tribal members in growing, harvesting, and distributing garlic across the Colville Reservation. It promotes Indigenous Food Sovereignty, intergenerational learning, and the expansion of Tribal-led agriculture. Core partners include the LIGHT Foundation, WSU Extension Colville Reservation, Colville Reservation Conservation District, Conservation Northwest, and the Intertribal Agriculture Council.
Okanogan Region Food Council
BSM facilitates the Okanogan Region Food Council, a 155-member coalition representing farmers, Tribal members, academia, public health, land conservation, and local agencies. Together, we build a shared vision for a just local food system where everyone has access to fresh, culturally relevant food. The Council strengthens regional collaboration, policy alignment, and community-led planning.
Okanogan Glean
In collaboration with Okanogan County Community Action Council, local farmers, and volunteers, BSM coordinates a regional gleaning initiative. With over 30% of residents facing hunger on the Colville Reservation and rural Okanogan County and 40% of farm food going to waste, this program rescues surplus produce and redistributes it to families in need. The program also cultivates local leadership and self-reliance—neighbors feeding neighbors while reducing food waste.
Across all initiatives, BSM centers racial justice, community resilience, and food as a pathway to self-determination. We believe real solutions emerge when those most impacted are empowered to lead. Our programs reflect that belief: they are collaborative, culturally grounded, and driven by people committed to building a healthier, more equitable future for the Okanogan region.
North Central Washington Food Council
A North Central Washington cross-sector food council. To address local community food systems to ultimately find ways to share resources, knowledge, and collective creative solutions to have large-scale impacts on the communities of NCW, including the Colville Reservation. This food council has the capacity to positively impact the close to 300k community members in NCW and the Colville Reservation. Positive impacts will also be felt by local organizations, local agencies, nonprofits, etc., who will increase their organization's resources, knowledge, and solutions by expanding their capacity through the NCW food council.
Food Systems Consulting
Local Community Food Systems Consulting for the State of Washington. A food system is the interconnected systems and processes that influence nutrition, food, health, community development, food access, food security, food justice, food sovereignty, food waste, and agriculture. Food systems are interconnected webs of human activities that link food production, processing, distribution, and consumption with human health and the environment.
Facilitation & Gatherings
Facilitation & Gatherings for local food system-related community participation meetings, organizations, and agencies.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Help the regional food systems grow with your feedback, time, and resources. Use this feedback form to let us know how you’d like to get involved and join our email newsletter.