Supporting Inuit food security: A synthesis of initiatives in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Northwest Territories

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 CFS/RCÉA Kenny, Wesche, Fillion, MacLean, & Chan Vol. 5 No. 2, May 2018 74 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.

Piecing together the Labrador Inuit food security policy puzzle in Nunatsiavut, Labrador (Canada): a scoping review

“…Country food is a term that describes “traditional Inuit food, including game meats, migratory birds, fish and foraged foods, and is an integral part of Inuit identity and culture” [ 58 ]. Policies identified with this dimension were consistent with other studies that have stated the availability of country foods is “influenced by the environment and ecological conditions that shape the health, abundance, distribution and migration of wildlife populations” [ 59 ]. It also reflects the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement [ 49 ] that identifies Inuit rights to land and resources that provide country foods.…”

“…This focus is more consistent with food insecurity and specifically household food insecurity, defined as “the inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints” [ 11 ]. The high percentage of results focusing on access and availability from this study is consistent with results from a synthesis of food security initiatives in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Northwest Territories, Canada, that identified 30 initiatives and mapped each initiative against applicable food security dimensions [ 59 ]. However, the results differ from another systematic review on food security dimensions and transitional food security in Alaska [ 62 ].…”

“…However, it was assumed that the evaluation plan corresponded to the outcomes for each policy and not necessarily the impact on food security, or furthermore, food security of Labrador Inuit within Nunatsiavut. Evaluation was acknowledged as a limitation when describing food security initiatives in other Inuit regions within Canada [ 59 ]. A fulsome review of each policy evaluation was beyond the scope of this study.…”

Community Ice Cellars In Eastern Chukotka: Climatic And Anthropogenic Influences On Structural Stability

“…The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the inability of local fox fur farms to transition to a market economy reduced cellar spendings efforts. Issues impacting the sustainability of these ice cellars are central to larger discussions on food security in indigenous Arctic communities since subsistence-hunted marine mammals continue to make up a significant portion of northern indigenous people's diets (Kozlov et al 2008;Kenny et al 2018;Melnikov, Fedorov 2018).…”

Examining Local Food Procurement, Adaptive Capacities and Resilience to Environmental Change in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories

“…Food security 1 challenges among Indigenous communities in northern Canada are a significant concern that is exacerbated by changing socio-cultural, economic, and environmental conditions (Council of Canadian Academies, 2014; Kenny et al, 2018;Rosol et al, 2016;Skinner et al, 2013;Spring et al, 2018). The Northwest Territories (NT) report that 19.3% of adults over the age of 12 are food insecure, while the national average is 7.3% (Northwest Territories [NT] Bureau of Statistics, 2014).…”