Tea Creek

What Tea Creek does

Tea Creek Training and Employment is an Indigenous-led, land-based training initiative established in 2020 and headquartered in Kitwanga, BC, on Gitxsan Territory. It delivers the "Tea Creek Model," a four-quadrant training curriculum covering trades (carpentry, mechanics, cooking, machine operation), agriculture, administration, and new media, with a flagship IFEAST (Indigenous Foodlands Employment Apprenticeship Skills Training) credentialing pathway launched in 2024 with SkilledTrades BC. The organization operates a working farm as its core training venue and produces and distributes food free of charge to Indigenous communities, having grown and given away over 25,000 lbs of produce in 2024 alone.

The underlying "technology" is a proprietary, culturally-safe land-based delivery architecture rather than a software product: standardized onboarding contracts, seasonal farming checklists, Indigenous Red Seal apprenticeship sponsorship through ITA BC, and the only Indigenous-designated Landscape Horticulture 1 centre in BC. Its products include IFEAST training, Indigenous Youth Works, Indigenous Food Sovereignty Training, corporate Reconcili-ACTION retreats, bunkhouse accommodations, and an award-winning documentary film. The sister organization Indigenous Food Sovereignty Association (IFSA) acts as a charitable vehicle and franchise-style deployment arm, with the model now active at Amisk Farm in Treaty 8 Territory and Ntamtqen Community Farm.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through grants, donations, and foundation funding rather than tuition or product sales. Core funders include BC Ministry of AEST, ITA BC, ESDC, and over a dozen private foundations (Farm Folk City Folk, FPCC, Makeway, Farm Credit Canada, REFBC, Vancouver Foundation, Endswell, All One, CN Foundation, BC Energy Regulator), with private funding exceeding government contracts for the first time in 2024. Ancillary commercial revenue comes from corporate retreats (email-inquiry pricing) and bunkhouse accommodations ($100-150/night). All training is free to Indigenous participants, with transportation, gear, nutrition, and support provided at no cost, and the organization reports 70%+ of revenue directed to employment expenses and 80%+ spent in the local economy.

Name

Tea Creek

Legal name

Tea Creek Training Inc.

Website

https://teacreek.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tea Creek Training and Employment is an Indigenous-led, land-based nonprofit training initiative in Kitwanga, BC, delivering free trades, agriculture, and food sovereignty programs to Indigenous adults and youth in BC, with credentialing through SkilledTrades BC and a replicable model deployed via partner farms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational and Trades Training

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal Technical & Workforce Development Colleges (Trades/Applied Programs) (EDAHANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry, Land Use & REDD+ Programs (BPADALAF), Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM)

Keywords

• Indigenous trades training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Food sovereignty training
• Land-based education
• Vocational skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kitwanga

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Tea Creek receives significant funding from government sources including BC Ministry of PSEFS, BC Ministry of AEST, ESDC, and SkilledTrades BC for training programs and employment initiatives
2. Private Foundation and Donor Funding: Private-sector administered funds exceeded government contracts for the first time in 2024. Funding from foundations including Farm Folk City Folk, First Peoples Cultural Council, Makeway, Farm Credit Canada, REFBC, BC Energy Regulator, Vancouver Foundation, Endswell Foundation, All One Foundation, and CN Foundation
3. Donations: Individual donations through Zeffy platform and other channels supporting ongoing skill-building work, food growing and distribution
4. Bunkhouse Accommodations: Tea Creek offers limited local accommodations through bunkhouses: Log Cabin (3 bedroom, 6 bed, max 6 occupancy) at $100/night single or $150/night double, and School House (4 bedroom, max 8 occupancy). Includes breakfast and lunch at Tea Creek Monday-Friday
5. Corporate Reconcili-ACTION Retreats: Indigenous-led land-based leadership development programs for corporate leadership teams, including full-day Indigenous Food Sovereignty principles on the farm followed by off-grid Grease Trails exploration

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Tea Creek is an Indigenous-led, land-based training initiative delivering hands-on programs in trades (carpentry, mechanics, cooking, machine operation) and agriculture to Indigenous adults and youth in British Columbia. Programs combine food production, skills training, and apprenticeship pathways toward Red Seal certifications through a culturally-safe, four-quadrant training model. Operations also include on-farm produce distribution, bunkhouse accommodations for trainees, and corporate Reconcili-ACTION retreats.

Product overview

Tea Creek Training and Employment is an Indigenous-led, award-winning land-based training initiative operating as a single unified program portfolio rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings consist of IFEAST (Indigenous Foodlands Employment Apprenticeship Skills Training) for adult Indigenous peoples seeking employment in trades and agriculture, Indigenous Youth Works for youth aged 15-30, and Indigenous Food Sovereignty Training covering food production and trades skills. Supporting services include Reconcili-ACTION Corporate Retreats for organizational leadership development, on-site Bunkhouse Accommodations for trainees, and the Tea Creek Film documentary for awareness and storytelling. The organization also operates a working farm that serves as both a training venue and demonstration site, growing and distributing produce while providing hands-on learning opportunities. All programs emphasize the 'Tea Creek Model' of culturally-safe, land-based education that revitalizes Indigenous food sovereignty and economic interdependence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IFEAST (Indigenous Foodlands Employment Apprenticeship Skills Training): Indigenous-led foodlands employment apprenticeship skills training program launched in 2024 in partnership with SkilledTrades BC.

Products and services

• IFEAST (Indigenous Foodlands Employment Apprenticeship Skills Training) A hands-on, land-based training program for unemployed or under-employed Indigenous peoples in BC, offering experience in trades (carpentry, mechanics, cooking, machine operation) and food production, with pathways to apprenticeships, jobs, and self-employment.
• Indigenous Youth Works Employment and mentorship program for Indigenous youth aged 15-30, providing wage-based participation with focus on skills development, community engagement, and pathways to future training and employment.
• Indigenous Food Sovereignty Training Comprehensive training program covering food sovereignty, essential skills, and trades introduction for Indigenous adults, with hands-on experience in harvesting, field crops, agriculture machinery, and pre-trade experience across four quadrants.
• Reconcili-ACTION Corporate Retreats Indigenous-led and land-based leadership development experience at Tea Creek Farm, combining Indigenous Food Sovereignty principles with off-grid exploration of ancient Grease Trails, designed for corporate leadership teams seeking transformative Truth and Reconciliation experiences.
• Bunkhouse Accommodations On-site accommodations including Log Cabin (3 bedroom, 6 bed) and School House (4 bedroom) located near Tea Creek farm, offering meals and proximity to training facilities for trainees and program participants at $100-150/night.
• Tea Creek Film Award-winning documentary film about Tea Creek, created by Ben Cox and Ryan Dickie and executive produced by CBC. Won Best Documentary at Saskatchewan Film Festival and Best Environmental Film at Sundar Film Festival.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of trainees report improvements to mental health
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ntamtqen Community FarmminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Part of IFSA network. Tea Creek deployed toolkits, funding, and knowledge to assist Ntamtqen Community Farm in launching their own IFEAST training programs in 2025.
• SSMPA (Small-Scale Meat Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SSMPA contributed a cutting-edge slaughter trailer to IFSA joining Food Hub resources in 2026. Discussions started in 2023 with tour of Spray Creek Ranch abattoir in Lillooet.
• Second HarvestminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to rescue and distribute over 100,000 lbs of food, reaching thousands of households, schools, and community groups across northwest BC.
• Indigenous Food Sovereignty Association (IFSA) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Over 60 First Nations have reached out wanting to partner with Tea Creek. Network includes Amisk Farm and Ntamtqen Community Farm actively deploying the Tea Creek Model.
• Gitxsan Bushgirl (Skyla Lattie)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Conducts Wild Wednesdays workshops on wild foods and medicine harvesting and processing every Wednesday.
• Amisk FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Julian Napoleon and Gabby Applegarth own and operate Amisk Farm at Moberly Lake. Tea Creek provided mentorship and support to deploy the Tea Creek model and IFEAST training. IFSA purchased half of Amisk's produce for community distribution. 100% of IFEAST trainees at Amisk exited into jobs.
• NorthPac ForestryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Supported construction of new bridge over Tea Creek with the Gitsegukla Hereditary Chiefs.
• Indigenous Food Sovereignty Association (IFSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022IFSA is Tea Creek's sister organization and core strategic partner. IFSA enables deployment of the Tea Creek Model at other locations (Amisk Farm), purchases produce from partner farms for community distribution, and jointly sponsors apprenticeships through SkilledTrades BC. Tea Creek and IFSA share staff, funding relationships, and programming. IFSA's charitable application supports education and poverty reduction missions.
• SkilledTrades BCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership to launch IFEAST program (Indigenous Foodlands Employment Apprenticeship Skills Training). SkilledTrades BC provides apprenticeship sponsorship, Horticulture designation, and training oversight. Tea Creek is BC's first Indigenous designated Horticulture Centre through this partnership.
• Gitwangak BandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner for Skills Training and apprenticeship support through AEST funding.
• Gitanyow BandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021In-kind support and partner; Tea Creek crew revived 14 family plots in community in 2021.
• Witset First NationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner for Skills Training; involved in graduation cohorts.
• Gitlaxt'aamiks Village GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partner for skills training; involved in graduation cohorts.
• Young AgrariansminorOthers · 1 January 2021Provided mentorship support and co-sponsored land social events.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Native Education College (NEC): A Indigenous-governed post-secondary institution in Vancouver delivering trades, adult upgrading, and employment training to Indigenous learners. Closely comparable as a BC-based Indigenous training provider with apprenticeship and employment pathway programming.
• Yellowhead Tribal College: An Indigenous-governed post-secondary college in Alberta delivering trades, university transfer, and employment-readiness programs to First Nations communities. Comparable as a Western Canadian Indigenous-led training institution with similar apprenticeship and trades training focus.
• Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT): A First Nations-mandated post-secondary and trades training institution in Saskatchewan offering trades, adult basic education, and apprenticeship pathways. Comparable as a major Indigenous-led trades training organization operating under government and Indigenous funding arrangements with similar apprentice sponsorship models.
• First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI): An Indigenous-owned and governed post-secondary institution in Ontario delivering trades, technology, and cultural programs to First Nations learners. Directly comparable as an Indigenous-led trades and training institution serving similar learner demographics with apprenticeship pathways.
• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT): A Indigenous-governed public post-secondary institution in BC serving First Nations learners with trades, academic, and culturally-grounded programs. Direct peer as a BC-based Indigenous-led training organization operating similar apprenticeship and trades programming.

Emerging players

• Young Agrarians: A farmer-to-farmer network supporting new and young regenerative farmers across Canada, including Indigenous land socials in partnership with Tea Creek. Comparable as a peer organization operating in the Indigenous agricultural and food sovereignty space, though focused on networking rather than training delivery.
• Farm Folk City Folk: A BC-based charitable organization supporting local food systems and farmers through events, workshops, and grants; a Tea Creek charitable partner. Comparable as a regional food sovereignty adjacent organization but focused on advocacy and event programming rather than hands-on trades training.

Others

• First Peoples' Cultural Council (FPCC): A BC Crown agency supporting Indigenous language, arts, and cultural revitalization through grants including the Braided Infrastructure grant that funded Tea Creek's root cellar. Comparable as a key infrastructure funder for Indigenous cultural and food sovereignty initiatives, but not a direct training operator.

Broad incumbents

• Indspire: A national Indigenous-led charity funding Indigenous education and trades training across Canada at much larger scale. Comparable in mission (Indigenous education and trades funding) but operates nationally as a funder and scholarship provider rather than a direct training operator.

Regional players

• Algonquin College — Indigenous Initiatives: A large Ontario college with established Indigenous education programming that administered ESDC Rapid Response Initiative funds for Tea Creek's Indigenous Youth Works. Comparable as a regional post-secondary institution partnering on Indigenous trades programming, though much larger and based outside BC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TeaCreekFarm
• Facebookfacebook.com/teacreekfarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/teacreek
• Instagraminstagram.com/teacreekfarm
• TikToktiktok.com/@teacreekfarm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tea Creek