Farmers, foodies and First Nations: getting to food sovereignty in Canada?

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.

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First Nations households living on-reserve experience food insecurity: prevalence and predictors among ninety-two First Nations communities across Canada

Can J Public Health ◽

10.17269/s41997-021-00491-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 112 (S1) ◽

pp. 52-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Malek Batal ◽

Hing Man Chan ◽

Karen Fediuk ◽

Amy Ing ◽

Peter R. Berti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

First Nations ◽

Food Sovereignty ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Barriers And Enablers ◽

Environment Study ◽

Households With Children

Abstract Objective To describe the prevalence of food insecurity in First Nations households across Canada while identifying barriers and enablers to traditional food (TF) consumption. Methods The First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study is a cross-Canada participatory study of on-reserve First Nations from 2008 to 2018. The Household Food Security Survey Module was used to capture income-related challenges experienced by First Nations households. Households were classified as food secure, or marginally, moderately, or severely food insecure. Barriers and enablers to TF access and use were identified describing the Indigenous experience. Results Almost half of on-reserve First Nations households were food insecure and the prevalence was higher than that for non-Indigenous households in Canada. On-reserve food insecurity prevalence was higher in western regions of Canada. First Nations households with children experienced greater food insecurity than those without children. More adults experienced severe food insecurity than children. Most adults would like to have more TF in their diet but state that factors such as financial and household constraints, industrial activities, government regulations, climate change, and fear of contamination impede greater access. Food costs were substantially higher in remote First Nations communities, but remoteness was not associated with food security in multivariable analysis. Conclusion Existing systems have been unsuccessful in curbing the food insecurity in First Nations households. Improving food security hinges on achieving Indigenous Food Sovereignty, the key to long-term conservation and stewardship of the land and the co-management of these by Indigenous Peoples. Studies investigating the feasibility of increasing TF from an Indigenous perspective are required.

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Traditional Food, Health, and Diet Quality in Syilx Okanagan Adults in British Columbia, Canada

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12040927 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 927 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rosanne Blanchet ◽

Noreen Willows ◽

Suzanne Johnson ◽

Okanagan Nation Salmon Reintroduction Initiatives ◽

Malek Batal

Keyword(s):

First Nations ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Weight Status ◽

Food Sovereignty ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Dietary Recall ◽

Strength Based ◽

Processed Products

In Canada, store-bought food constitutes the majority of First Nations (FN) people’s diets; however, their traditional foods (TF; wild fish, game, fowl, and plants) remains vital for their health. This study compares health indicators and diet quality among 265 Syilx Okanagan adults according to whether or not they reported eating TF during a 24-h dietary recall. Three methods assessed diet quality: nutrient intakes and adequacy, Healthy Eating Index (HEI-C), and contributions of ultra-processed products (UPP) to %energy using the NOVA classification. Fifty-nine participants (22%) reported eating TF during the dietary recall; TF contributed to 13% of their energy intake. There were no significant differences in weight status or prevalence of chronic disease between TF eaters and non-eaters. TF eaters had significantly higher intakes of protein; omega-3 fatty acids; dietary fibre; copper; magnesium; manganese; phosphorus; potassium; zinc; niacin; riboflavin; and vitamins B6, B12, D, and E than non-eaters. TF eaters also had significantly better diet quality based on the HEI-C and the %energy from UPP. Findings support that TF are critical contributors to the diet quality of FN individuals. Strength-based FN-led interventions, such as Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives, should be promoted to improve access to TF and to foster TF consumption.

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Can selling traditional food increase food sovereignty for First Nations in northwestern Ontario (Canada)?

Food and Foodways ◽

10.1080/07409710.2021.1901385 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-27

Author(s):

Keira A. Loukes ◽

Celeste Ferreira ◽

Janice Cindy Gaudet ◽

Michael A. Robidoux

Keyword(s):

First Nations ◽

Food Sovereignty ◽

Traditional Food ◽

Northwestern Ontario

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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

Environmental Health Review ◽

10.5864/d2014-028 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 57 (03) ◽

pp. 65-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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Exploring homelessness and Indigenous food Systems in northern British Columbia

Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation ◽

10.15353/cfs-rcea.v5i2.212 ◽

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.

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First Nations Food Environments: Exploring the Role of Place, Income, and Social Connection

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa108 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (8) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chantelle Richmond ◽

Marylynn Steckley ◽

Hannah Neufeld ◽

Rachel Bezner Kerr ◽

Kathi Wilson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

First Nations ◽

Indigenous People ◽

Food Access ◽

Food Sovereignty ◽

Cultural Dimensions ◽

Dietary Quality ◽

Food Environments ◽

Traditional Foods ◽

Cross Sectional

ABSTRACT Background In Canada, few studies have examined how place shapes Indigenous food environments, particularly among Indigenous people living in southern regions of Ontario. Objective This paper examines and compares circumstances of food insecurity that impact food access and dietary quality between reserve-based and urban-based Indigenous peoples in southwestern Ontario. Methods This study used a community-based survey containing a culturally adapted food-frequency questionnaire and cross-sectional study design to measure food insecurity, food access, and dietary quality among Indigenous respondents living in urban (n = 130) and reserve-based (n = 99) contexts in southwestern Ontario. Results Rates of food insecurity are high in both geographies (55% and 35% among urban- and reserve-based respondents, respectively). Urban-based participants were 6 times more likely than those living on-reserve to report 3 different measures of food insecurity. Urban respondents reported income to be a significant barrier to food access, while for reserve-based respondents, time was the most pressing barrier. Compared with recommendations from Canada's Food Guide, our data revealed overwhelming trends of insufficient consumption in 3 food categories among all respondents. Close to half (54% and 52%) of the urban- and reserve-based samples reported that they eat traditional foods at least once a week, and respondents from both groups (76% of urban- and 52% of reserve-based respondents) expressed interest in consuming traditional foods more often. Conclusions Indigenous Food Sovereignty and community-led research are key pathways to acknowledge and remedy Indigenous food insecurity. Policies, social movements, and research agendas that aim to improve Indigenous food security must be governed and defined by Indigenous people themselves. Indigenous food environments constitute political, social, and cultural dimensions that are infinitely place based.

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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)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094404 ◽

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.

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

Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation ◽

10.15353/cfs-rcea.v8i2.446 ◽

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.

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