scholarly journals Access and affordability of "healthy" foods in northern Manitoba? The need for Indigenous food sovereignty

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengistu Assefa Wendimu ◽  
Annette Aurélie Desmarais ◽  
Tabitha Robin Martens
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Fresh Milk

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.

scholarly journals Applying a Political Economy of Health standpoint to traditional food acquisition practices and the inequitable prevalence of obesity and diabetes amongst First Nations peoples in British Columbia

2014 ◽  
Vol 57 (03) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Merz ◽  
Malcolm Steinberg
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Nutrition Transition ◽  
Traditional Food ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes ◽  
Political Economy Of Health ◽  
Public Health Protection

The inequitable population prevalence rates of obesity and diabetes being experienced by First Nations peoples in British Columbia require public health protection practitioners to deepen their inquiry into the social determinants of these chronic conditions. These attempts need to be placed within the context of food insecurity that is garnering growing attention from public health at large and, more specifically, within the emerging Indigenous consensus understanding of the relationship between the ongoing nutrition transition and the inequitable prevalence rates of these conditions. We suggest that these reflections are productively theorized from a Political Economy of Health standpoint and supported by representative findings from the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey. This theoretical perspective supports the viewpoint that the inequitable expression of these chronic conditions can be attributed to the nutrition transition that populations experienced as they were shifted from a traditional subsistence diet to a commoditized, industrialized food production system. This analysis also supports the structural recommendations of the British Columbia Food Systems Network Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty that would remove barriers and threats to traditional food acquisition. These include making environmental protection and conservation of biological diversity a priority in all land use planning; setting aside adequate tracts of land for the protection, conservation, and restoration of Indigenous food systems; giving priority to traditional food and cultural values in contemporary forestry, fisheries, rangeland, and agrarian management policies and practice; and giving priority to Indigenous food and cultural harvesting over commoditized, export-oriented commercial harvesting. Public health protection practitioners will be progressively challenged to support these recommendations by the communities they serve. Although there is no guarantee that implementation of these recommendations will reverse the trend of decreasing participation rates in traditional food harvesting in British Columbia, we suggest that unless many of the systemic irrationalities, vested interests, and historically unjust rationales for maintaining the status quo with respect to Indigenous food sovereignty are interrogated and challenged, an ancient lifeway grounded in demonstrably sustainable traditional food harvesting practices will remain threatened.

scholarly journals Exploring homelessness and Indigenous food Systems in northern British Columbia

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-179
Author(s):  
Julia Russell ◽  
Margot W. Parkes
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Ancestry ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Case Study Methodology

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.

scholarly journals Examining Indigenous food sovereignty as a conceptual framework for health in two urban communities in Northern Ontario, Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 54-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lana Ray ◽  
Kristin Burnett ◽  
Anita Cameron ◽  
Serena Joseph ◽  
Joseph LeBlanc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Urban Service

While land is a nexus for culture, identity, governance, and health, as a concept land is rarely addressed in conversations and policy decisions about Indigenous health and well-being. Indigenous food sovereignty, a concept which embodies Indigenous peoples’ ability to control their food systems, including markets, production modes, cultures and environments, has received little attention as a framework to approach Indigenous health especially for Indigenous people living in urban spaces. Instead, discussions about Indigenous food sovereignty have largely focused on global and remote and rural communities. Addressing this gap in the literature, this article presents exploratory work conducted with Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig and Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, two Indigenous-led Aboriginal Health Access Centres in urban service centers located in Northern Ontario, Canada.

scholarly journals Indigenous Community Perspectives of Food Security, Sustainable Food Systems and Strategies to Enhance Access to Local and Traditional Healthy Food for Partnering Williams Treaties First Nations (Ontario, Canada)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4404
Author(s):  
Ashleigh Domingo ◽  
Kerry-Ann Charles ◽  
Michael Jacobs ◽  
Deborah Brooker ◽  
Rhona M. Hanning
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Community Based Participatory Research ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Sustainable Food Systems ◽  
Sustainable Food

In partnership with communities of the Williams Treaties First Nations in southern Ontario (Canada), we describe an approach to work with communities, and highlight perspectives of food security and sustainability, including priorities and opportunities to revitalize local food systems as a pathway to food security and food sovereignty. The objectives of our project were: (1) to build a shared understanding of food security and sustainability; and (2) to document community priorities, challenges and opportunities to enhance local food access. Utilizing an Indigenous methodology, the conversational method, within the framework of community-based participatory research, formative work undertaken helped to conceptualize food security and sustainability from a community perspective and solidify interests within the four participating communities to inform community-led action planning. Knowledge generated from our project will inform development of initiatives, programs or projects that promote sustainable food systems. The community-based actions identified support a path towards holistic wellbeing and, ultimately, Indigenous peoples’ right to food security and food sovereignty.

scholarly journals Moving Your Body, Soul, and Heart to Share and Harvest Food

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaylee Michnik ◽  
Shirley Thompson ◽  
Byron Beardy
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Participatory Research ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Photo Elicitation ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Food Education

Colonialism, and its partner, racism, greatly impact Indigenous food systems across Canada elevating the rates of diet-related diseases and food insecurity. Many Indigenous communities have responded to these challenges with their own community-based, culturally appropriate food solutions, including local food production. This participatory research explores the question of traditional food education for First Nations youth through photo elicitation with five young adults employed on a community farm and interviews with twelve Elders, community food educators and Knowledge Keepers. This research provides the building blocks for food education to support a community-based, Indigenous food system and sovereignty, informed by Garden Hill First Nation Elders and youth. Interviews and participatory research established that food education should be rooted in traditional and spiritual beliefs, land-based learning and self-determination, and food policies and programs need to assess the use of technology, financial sustainability, and promote gender balance. Community desires for food education closely match the tenets of Indigenous food sovereignty. This research shows the importance of developing Indigenous food education programs that are community-based and applied.

scholarly journals STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AREAS OF THE REGIONAL AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF PROVISION OF FOOD SAFETY OF THE POPULATION

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1001-1009
Author(s):  
A.I. Sutygina ◽  
A.V. Ovchinnikova ◽  
A.A. Bratsikhin
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
National Level ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
The State ◽  
Rural Settlements ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Self Sufficiency

Strategic goal of agri-food systems development (AFS) is provision of food safety of the country. This predetermines food sovereignty of the country on the national level. It is important for regions to achieve self-sufficiency in food. Food safety of each country resident is characterized by the balanced and quality nutrition in the volume no less than the norm of rational consumption. To achieve the food sovereignty on every of the above-mentioned levels, it's necessary to have stable development of the regional agri-food systems where the demand, supply and consumption of the food products form. Functioning of AFS is connected with the efficiency of agri-food production, its competitiveness, trading networks activity, population incomes and participance of the state in the forming of food supply and the demand. The role of the state regulation consists in the forming of conditions for the stable functioning of all its sub-systems, provision of physical, economic and social availability of the food. In conditions of the differentiation of the regions by social and economical development, the level of the population incomes and food prices are varied significantly. This stipulates different levels of the affordability of the food. Besides, economic inequality is noted not only among regions, but also among the employees of different economic sectors, as well as residents of city and rural settlements. In these conditions self-provision of the population with food is a factor of increase of the nutrition quality, and the realization of the excess is a source of additional incomes. State support of the owners of private part-owner units, activity of trading and purchasing consumer co-operatives contribute to the growth of self-sufficiency of the villagers with food.

Mobile Agriculture in South Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blessing Mukabeta Maumbe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Implementation Framework ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Wireless Technologies

The rapid diffusion of mobile and wireless technologies is transforming agricultural development globally. In South Africa, rural e-government service delivery has been hampered by low Internet penetration. Mobile government offers a promising alternative to deliver public services to remote rural communities. In this regard, the author examines the potential of mobile and wireless technologies to deliver value-added services to rural communities in South Africa. An implementation framework comprising a multi-functional agro-portal and mobile agriculture services is proposed. The benefits and barriers of using mobile and wireless technologies in rural areas are examined, while key considerations and policy implications for mobile agriculture are discussed. The author advocates the development of “value-based” and “demand-driven” mobile agriculture services for the future growth and survival of mobile agriculture, which requires greater competition among service providers, use of multi-lingual e-content, integration of indigenous knowledge, mobile agriculture curriculum, mobile cyber-security, and customized value-added services for rural communities.

Pathways ahead for New Zealand hill country farming

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.G. Scrimgeour
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
The Status ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Hill Farming ◽  
The Hill

This paper provides a stocktake of the status of hill country farming in New Zealand and addresses the challenges which will determine its future state and performance. It arises out of the Hill Country Symposium, held in Rotorua, New Zealand, 12-13 April 2016. This paper surveys people, policy, business and change, farming systems for hill country, soil nutrients and the environment, plants for hill country, animals, animal feeding and productivity, and strategies for achieving sustainable outcomes in the hill country. This paper concludes by identifying approaches to: support current and future hill country farmers and service providers, to effectively and efficiently deal with change; link hill farming businesses to effective value chains and new markets to achieve sufficient and stable profitability; reward farmers for the careful management of natural resources on their farm; ensure that new technologies which improve the efficient use of input resources are developed; and strategies to achieve vibrant rural communities which strengthen hill country farming businesses and their service providers. Keywords: farming systems, hill country, people, policy, productivity, profitability, sustainability

Fulfilling the Right to Food for South Africa: Justice, Security, Sovereignty and the Politics of Malnutrition

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-152
Author(s):  
Busiso Helard Moyo ◽  
Anne Marie Thompson Thow
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Sovereignty ◽  
Food Justice ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Right To Food ◽  
Economic Rights ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right

Despite South Africa’s celebrated constitutional commitments that have expanded and deepened South Africa’s commitment to realise socio-economic rights, limited progress in implementing right to food policies stands to compromise the country’s developmental path. If not a deliberate policy choice, the persistence of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms is a deep policy failure.  Food system transformation in South Africa requires addressing wider issues of who controls the food supply, thus influencing the food chain and the food choices of the individual and communities. This paper examines three global rights-based paradigms – ‘food justice’, ‘food security’ and ‘food sovereignty’ – that inform activism on the right to food globally and their relevance to food system change in South Africa; for both fulfilling the right to food and addressing all forms of malnutrition. We conclude that the emerging concept of food sovereignty has important yet largely unexplored possibilities for democratically managing food systems for better health outcomes.

Alexander First Nations Parents’ Perceptions of a School Nutrition Policy

2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Gillies ◽  
Anna Farmer ◽  
Katerina Maximova ◽  
Noreen D. Willows ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implementation ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Nutrition Policy ◽  
School Nutrition ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Promotion Strategy ◽  
Food Programs ◽  
Health Promotion Strategy ◽  
Survey Responses

Purpose: A school nutrition policy (SNP) is one promising school-based health promotion strategy to improve the food environments of First Nations children. The aim of this study was to explore First Nations parents’ perceptions of a SNP. Methods: A process evaluation of policy implementation was conducted using a mixed-methods design. Parents (n = 83) completed a 19-question survey to capture their perceptions of the policy. Survey responses informed questions in an 11-question semi-structured interview guide. Transcripts from interviews with parents (n = 10) were analyzed using content analysis to identify barriers and facilitators to policy implementation. Results: Parents were supportive of the SNP and the school’s food programs, which they perceived as helping to address community concerns related to nutrition. However, some parents opposed the restriction of unhealthy foods at school celebrations and fundraisers. In addition, despite being aware of the SNP, parents were unable to demonstrate an understanding of the SNP content. Finally, parents struggled to provide their children with healthy foods to bring to school due to lack of affordable and accessible food in the community. Conclusions: Although SNPs may be well-received in First Nations communities, their implementation must be supported by parent involvement and consideration of wider socioeconomic conditions.

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