“We Hardly Have Any Moose Around Here Anymore”: Climate Change and the Barriers to Food Security in the Dehcho Region, Northwest Territories

Abstract

Rural Indigenous communities across northern Canada are experiencing high rates of food insecurity as a result of complex constraints to accessing quality market foods and engaging in local food procurement. Climate change is impacting the ability of northern Indigenous communities to acquire, access, and utilize food that is culturally relevant and sustainable. This research examines the interconnected sociocultural, political, economic, and environmental challenges related to food security in the community of Fort Providence situated in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories. The objective of this research was to consult with community members to understand the impacts of climate change on local food procurement and to explore the myriad challenges related to food security. We utilized Indigenous methodologies to guide all aspects of the research. Evidence was collected using semi-structured interviews with Dene and Métis Elders, knowledgeable land-users, and other community members. Our research demonstrates that changing hydrological systems and ecosystems, unpredictable weather patterns, the presence of non-local harvesters, the loss of traditional knowledge, and the high costs of living in a rural northern community impact local food security. The results of this research can inform policies that reflect the needs of residents, address the distinct barriers to procuring local food, and provide a basis for understanding the complexities of food security in the Dehcho and other subarctic regions.

Wapekeka’s COVID-19 Response: A Local Response to a Global Pandemic

“…This adds an important challenge to increasing traditional food in local diets, especially when taking the compounding challenges of environmental changes into consideration. While there is literature that demonstrates that Indigenous communities have developed complex wildlife management strategies over their extensive relationships with ecosystems in ancestral lands [ 67 , 68 , 69 ], current research contends that unprecedented levels of environment change in northern Canada present significant challenges to the resiliency of land-based food practices and the ecosystems they rely upon [ 65 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ].…”

Assessing perceived food security among British Columbian rural and urban residents

“…The main barriers to food security in Canada were consistent across publications, ranging from economic instability, cost of food, changing climate, inability to access market foods and lack of sustainable food sources (Balcaen & Storie, 2018;Pooler et al, 2019;Richmond et al, 2021;Ross & Mason, 2020;Tarasuk & Mitchell, 2017). In order to maintain food sustainability and develop local nutritious foods, many publications have described the importance of establishing local food initiatives and agricultural programs (Audate et al, 2019;Fairbridge et al, 2021;Ivanov, 2019;Martin & Vold, 2018;Thompson et al, 2018).…”

“…Indigenous food security is multifaceted. It is influenced by culture, connection to the land and access to traditional foods (Richmond et al, 2021;Ross & Mason, 2020;Thompson et al, 2018). The connection Indigenous peoples feel to the land and traditional food, in both rural and urban communities, plays a crucial role in the perception of community health and wellness.…”

“…In urban communities, access to traditional foods is not feasible due to increased living expenses and readily available processed foods (Richmond et al, 2021). Whereas in rural communities' food security is more influenced by increased market food price and challenges to accessing traditional foods as a result of climate change (Kenny et al, 2018;Ross & Mason, 2020;Thompson et al, 2018). The regeneration of traditional food pathways through community agriculture and community engagement have shown to positively influence food security in Indigenous communities (Richmond et al, 2021;Thompson et al, 2018).…”

“Part of Who We Are…”: A Review of the Literature Addressing the Sociocultural Role of Traditional Foods in Food Security for Indigenous People in Northern Canada

“…A major focus of most (n = 18) of the papers was the availability of traditional food and the challenges and determinants facilitating or undermining access to traditional foods. Many Indigenous people express concerns about a decline in the availability of country foods [45,47,58]. Elders, in particular, claim they eat less traditional food than they did when they were younger [53].…”