Grant: Food Security and Climate Change in the Canadian North

Climate change and industrial development has disrupted the migratory and reproductive habits of the barren-ground caribou of the Northwest Territories. In an effort to protect the remaining caribou, a ban on caribou hunting was instituted in 2010 which had a myriad of consequences beyond its well-intentioned goal of protecting the species. The Tlicho people, who have long depended on the caribou as a primary and culturally-significant food source, have been deeply impacted by this shift. This project seeks to characterize the impact that the loss of caribou has had on Tlicho food security, mental wellness, and community resiliency in the face of major climatic and legislative changes. Within the community-based research framework, a combination of conversational qualitative methods and other indigenous research paradigms will be employed throughout the course of this work, and guidance from Tlicho Elders will be sought at all phases of research, from initial conception, through to execution and eventual data dissemination. We anticipate that this work will build capacity among Tlicho youth and scholars, and will form the foundation for future evidence-based policy recommendations.