Authors:Tabitha Robin Martens Pages: 9 - 12 Abstract: Understanding Indigenous food systems requires positioning ourselves in our own understanding of Indigenous food, culture, and place. The resurgence of Indigenous culture occurring around food, and the protection and revitalization of Indigenous food systems must be documented with a commitment to Indigenous values, worldviews and perspectives. This commentary offers insight into how we can do so. PubDate: 2018-05-22 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.216 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
Authors:Lauren Kepkiewicz, Sarah Rotz Pages: 13 - 24 Abstract: This perspective piece teases out some of the tensions between the development of a national food policy, which has gained significant traction in Canada over the past few years, and Indigenous food sovereignty, which long predates the Canadian government and its policies and has a rich history and current practice of organizing. Drawing from our observations and discussions at conferences, workshops, and events, and pointing to key aspects of discourse commonly embedded in such discussions, we critically reflect on how settler engagements with Indigenous peoples in developing a national food policy may reify, rather than dismantle, colonial relationships. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of process and the ability for settlers to accept discomfort and incommensurability if we are to move towards spaces that embody solidarity, respect, and resistance. PubDate: 2018-05-04 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.202 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
Authors:Jaime Cidro, Tabitha Robin Martens, Lynelle Zahayko, Herenia P. Lawrence Pages: 25 - 43 Abstract: As a concept and in practice, Indigenous food sovereignty (IFS) offers insights into the social, cultural, and environmental challenges of a deficient food system. The associated poor health outcomes of this system include infant and child health issues such as early childhood caries and childhood obesity, and are a grave concern in many First Nations communities. Extant research has failed to consider the role of infant feeding traditions as an element of Indigenous food sovereignty. Breastfeeding and country food (also called traditional food or cultural food) consumption among infants has been long practiced in First Nations communities, resulting in healthier infants. The research described in this article originated with a research project called the Baby Teeth Talk study (BTT). This is a community-based trial which is testing a pre-natal/post-natal behavioural and preventive intervention for early childhood caries (ECC) among pregnant First Nations women and their infants in urban and on-reserve communities in Ontario and Manitoba. In Norway House Cree Nation, located in northern Manitoba, research participants shared stories on the methods used by caregivers for oral health care, including breastfeeding promotion. This paper reviews the literature relating to IFS, breastfeeding and the introduction of country food to infants. Through the voices of grandmothers in one community in Northern Manitoba, Canada, we connect the introduction of country food and breastfeeding to the larger IFS movement and positive health outcomes for infants, and improve the conceptualization and practice of IFS. PubDate: 2018-05-23 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.249 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
Authors:Mengistu Assefa Wendimu, Annette Aurélie Desmarais, Tabitha Robin Martens Pages: 44 - 72 Abstract: Despite widespread concerns about household food insecurity experienced by Indigenous peoples, there is limited empirical evidence about the availability and prices of healthy foods in First Nations rural communities located in northern Manitoba, Canada. To fill this research gap, this study examines the availability and affordability of fresh milk, fruits, vegetables, and several other selected food items; investigates the determinants of food prices; and examines the implications of paying higher food prices for individuals and communities in northern Manitoba. The research findings are based on a survey of fifty-two food items conducted in twenty-two communities and six focus group discussions with mothers, service providers, and community leaders. Our research indicates that in addition to limited availability of healthy foods, food prices in First Nations communities were significantly higher than in Winnipeg or non-First Nations urban centers. We conclude by pointing to some policy implications emerging from this research while also signaling the need for a more substantial and profound transformation that includes decolonizing food systems and building Indigenous food sovereignty. PubDate: 2018-05-23 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.302 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
Authors:Tiff-Annie Kenny, Sonia D Wesche, Myriam Fillion, Jullian MacLean, Hing Man Chan Pages: 73 - 110 Abstract: Food insecurity among Indigenous Peoples of northern Canada is a significant public health issue that is exacerbated by changing social and environmental conditions. While a patchwork of programs, strategies and polices exist, the extent to which they address all “pillars” of food security (food availability, access, quality, and utilization) remains under-assessed. We respond to this gap by providing a framework for synthesizing and assessing information about food security initiatives, using a case study of the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), the westernmost Inuit region of Canada. Our objectives are: (1) to identify existing initiatives in the ISR; (2) to assess the breadth and diversity of these initiatives in addressing the four key food security “pillars”; and (3) to present an analytical framework that will facilitate ongoing data updating and sharing in the ISR and elsewhere. Through a scoping review and direct consultation with 12 key informants, we identified 30 initiatives that support food security in the ISR. These are funded and implemented at a range of national, territorial, regional, and local levels, and include both governmental and non-governmental programs, strategic frameworks, and research and monitoring initiatives. Seven key themes emerged from the cross-scale analysis of these initiatives, including: orientation with respect to food security pillars, scope and scale, demographic targeting, funding, monitoring and evaluation, and implications for food security strategies. While our framework provides a useful tool for data synthesis and analysis, its outputs can help in identifying gaps and opportunities for both resource allocation and program and policy development for under-served communities. Significantly, this study highlights the importance of engaging local perspectives in the development of coordinated approaches to address Inuit food insecurity. PubDate: 2018-05-28 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.213 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
Authors:Andrew Spring, Blair Carter, Alison Blay-Palmer Pages: 111 - 141 Abstract: Canada’s North offers unique food systems perspectives. Built on close cultural and spiritual ties to the land, the food systems within many northern communities still rely on the harvesting and gathering of traditional food and function through the sharing of food throughout the community. However, social, economic and environmental pressures have meant that some communities rely more on food purchased from the stores, which can be unhealthy and expensive, leading to high rates of food insecurity and chronic health problems in many communities in the North. Northern communities are now dealing with the impacts of climate change that are increasing pressure on the food system by limiting both access to the land and the availability of traditional food sources. This research presents a case study from the Northern Canadian boreal community of Kakisa, Northwest Territories. Using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology, community members play an active role in identifying threats to the community food system, as well as developing community-based solutions to foster adaptation and transformation of their food systems to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. By using the Community Capitals Framework to identify multiple stressors on the food system this research illustrates how a community can allocate available capitals to adapt to the impacts of climate change as well as identify which capitals are required to build a more sustainable food system. PubDate: 2018-04-30 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.199 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
Authors:Lise Luppens, Elaine Power Pages: 142 - 161 Abstract: Health promotion materials for Indigenous peoples generally recommend that Indigenous people incorporate more “traditional” foods into their diets, referring to foods that are hunted, fished or gathered from the local environment. Little scholarly attention has focused on which foods Indigenous peoples themselves consider to be traditional, or the socio-cultural significance of their contemporary food patterns. The purpose of this project was to hear the voices of Indigenous peoples about the significance, meanings, and values of foods they eat, and what they consider to be traditional foods. Participants self-identified as Aboriginal people living in or near Terrace, BC were asked to photograph everyday foods, which were then used in semi-structured interviews. Themes identified in preliminary analysis were shared with seven of the original participants in a focus group. Key issues included barriers to access and use of locally gathered foods, and concerns about environmental contaminants in wild food. Participants spontaneously spoke of food in terms of health, but had to be prompted to discuss traditional food. While locally gathered, fished and hunted foods were clearly seen as traditional, the status of other foods was more contested. Case studies of specific foods revealed how participants imagined traditional foods, and also how these were combined with store-bought foods in inventive ways to produce culturally-significant fusion or hybrid foods. Our findings reflect the vibrancy and resilience of Indigenous cultures, and suggest that we reconsider some of the dominant assumptions that inform research and health promotion activities targetting Indigenous peoples. PubDate: 2018-05-23 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.219 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
Authors:Julia Russell, Margot W. Parkes Pages: 162 - 179 Abstract: People experiencing homelessness are known to be highly food insecure, but outside of emergency aid little is known about their overall experiences with food, particularly in Canada’s northern communities. This study examined experiences that influenced access to food for people experiencing homelessness in a small city in northern British Columbia. Early findings underscored the importance of the impacts of colonization when seeking to understand food access in this context, and the value of lived experiences (including people with experiences of homelessness) when seeking to understand Indigenous food systems and food sovereignty as part of a re-emerging food system. The research drew on ethnography and case study methodology with modified community mapping to explore the food systems of the participants, who identified as First Nations, Métis or had mixed Indigenous and European ancestry. A focus group and subsequent interviews revealed a dynamic and complex food system. The flexible research design enabled participants to creatively express the food-related issues, challenges and successes most pertinent to their lives. Key food-related themes were social connections, as well as connections to the land and to culture. Participants’ experiences, actions and desires regarding food, health and well-being highlighted Indigenous food sovereignty as an overarching concept which offers an adaptable, holistic approach that can accommodate complexity. It is a valuable direction for future research and practice seeking to improve food security and health. PubDate: 2018-05-21 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.212 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
Authors:Kelly Gordon, Adrianne Lickers Xavier, Hannah Tait Neufeld Pages: 180 - 195 Abstract: Urban and reserve-based First Nation families in southern Ontario frequently experience food insecurity as well as more limited access to traditional, more nutrient dense foods from the local environment. Healthy Roots was initiated in the community of Six Nations to promote traditional food consumption. A small number of participants eating only locally available foods reported better-controlled blood glucose, positive weight change and increased traditional food knowledge. New relationships and partnerships were also developed. Our Sustenance, a community organization that was responsible for the local farmers market, community gardens, good food box program, and other community programs, joined the Healthy Roots Committee to continue advancing the knowledge and activation of the community-based initiatives such as the development of a Haudenosaunee Food Guide. Healthy Roots may serve as a model and inspiration to other Indigenous communities looking to reconnect to their local environments and Indigenous lifeways to promote Indigenous foodways and well-being. PubDate: 2018-05-21 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.210 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
Authors:Karen Graham, Rhonda Camille, Tracey Kim Bonneau Pages: 196 - 203 Abstract: A unique Indigenous-focused Art Expo on the topic of breastfeeding was held at En’owkin Centre at Penticton Indian Band in October and November 2017. The En’owkin Centre is a nationally recognized Indigenous arts and training centre. This review highlights some of the art from the En’owkin Indigenous Expo including six of the Community Art Projects and three Independent Art pieces. The En’owkin Breastfeeding Art Expo was part of a larger Expo (2017-2018) that is a joint partnership with Interior Health and the non-profit social service organization KCR-Community Resources; it was funded by five organizations. With 35 community partners, the project was led by a ten-member steering committee that including two Indigenous members. The Expo offered a full-colour Art Catalogue and a Teacher’s Guide. The larger Expo travelled to six locations in the Interior of British Columbia, and included 15 large community art projects and 65 independent artworks by citizens of central British Columbia, as well as 20 short videos that tell the significant art and health stories. Art is recognized as an important tool for Indigenous people for health and healing. This Expo was an opportunity to celebrate community, art, and breastfeeding. The goals of the Expo were multi-faceted, namely, to increase awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, to encourage new ways of thinking about health through art, and to support work towards establishing better care for women to breastfeed in the hospital and community. PubDate: 2018-05-23 DOI: 10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.289 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 2 (2018)
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