Grow the network
IGCC welcomes applications from Indigenous chef communities anywhere in the world. No single nation holds dominance — every recognised collective has an equal voice at the table.
What is a National Collective
A National Collective is a group of Indigenous chefs and food leaders in a country or region who share IGCC's values and commit to its standards. Once recognised, a National Collective can approve members, hold elections for International Board Delegates, and coordinate activities that advance Indigenous food culture in their territory.
The process is designed to be accessible, community-led, and grounded in the principles of cultural sovereignty that sit at the heart of everything IGCC does.
What recognition means
Your nation joins the IGCC International Board. You approve national members, hold Delegate elections, and shape the direction of the global collective.
Minimum standards
Collectives must meet governance, financial, and cultural integrity standards set by the COM, detailed in the National Collective Recognition Policy.
Founding collectives
Aotearoa, Hawaiʻi, North America, and Samoa established the network in 2025. More nations are being welcomed as the collective grows.
How it works
Whether your community already gathers informally or is just beginning to organise, here's how a National Collective comes to life within IGCC.
Fill in the form below and tell us about your community and its connection to Indigenous food culture.
Our team reviews your submission and gets in touch to learn more about your community, your food culture, and your goals.
Your community's governance, financial, and cultural integrity practices are reviewed against the standards set out in the National Collective Recognition Policy.
The Board considers your community's alignment with IGCC's values and purposes, and lets you know the outcome.
Once recognised, your nation joins the International Board, can approve its own members, and holds elections for its Delegates.
Step one
This isn't a formal application — it's the start of a conversation. Not ready to apply yet? That's completely fine, this same form is a good way to simply get in touch and tell us about your community.
Fields marked * are required.
Submitting this form does not guarantee recognition. Every submission is reviewed by our team, and formal recognition as a National Collective follows a separate assessment by the Trust Board.
Get in touch and tell us about your community — we would love to hear from you, no matter what stage you're at.