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)

Ashleigh Domingo, Kerry-Ann Charles, Michael Jacobs, Deborah Brooker and Rhona M. Hanning
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Ashleigh Domingo: School of Public Health and Health Systems, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Kerry-Ann Charles: Cambium Indigenous Professional Services, Curve Lake, ON K0L 1R0, Canada
Michael Jacobs: Cambium Indigenous Professional Services, Curve Lake, ON K0L 1R0, Canada
Deborah Brooker: Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2, Canada
Rhona M. Hanning: School of Public Health and Health Systems, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Indigenous health; food security; food sovereignty; food systems; sustainability; colonialism; community-based; participatory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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