Services Provided: Clear Course worked alongside Lil̓wat Nation with project planning and grant writing to support the early development of a community food initiative.
Work included facilitating discussions to shape the vision of the initiative, clarifying priorities, and mapping a realistic path forward for funding the project. Next, Clear Course identified and evaluated funding opportunities, and developed proposals that aligned with Líl̓wat’s long-term agricultural goals.
Outcome: Qwal̓ímak Nlep̓cálten, meaning Mosquito Garden, began as a community-driven vision rooted in a simple idea: Lil̓wat people feeding Lil̓wat people. Over time, that vision has taken shape through steady planning, coordinated funding efforts, and continued community involvement.
Early-stage funding played an important role in getting the project off the ground, supporting initial planning and design and allowing the Nation to begin building toward a larger agricultural initiative. Additional funding secured in subsequent phases helped move the project forward into construction and implementation, enabling the garden to transition from concept to a working, on-the-ground agricultural space.
About: Today, Qwal̓ímak Nlep̓cálten operates as an active market garden, producing a range of vegetables using organic and sustainable practices. The site is supported by a dedicated farm manager and a small staff team, reflecting a model of steady growth and operational stability.
Beyond production, the garden creates space for learning and participation. Community members have opportunities to develop skills in growing, harvesting, and preserving food, supporting the transfer of knowledge and strengthening local capacity.
Rather than representing a single milestone, the project reflects an ongoing process of building a resilient, community-led food system. It contributes to food security, supports self-reliance, and reinforces connections to land-based practices in a way that is shaped by Lil̓wat values and priorities.