Grant: Catalyst Grant: CPHO Report - General Pool

Climate-related food insecurity (CRFI) is a significant threat to Indigenous Peoples due to high food prices, lack of traditional foods, and income constraints. CRFI is an issue of national concern. Many public policies addressing food insecurity in Canada are not well suited to Northern contexts. They do not address food system-related problems as being interconnected to climate change. Policy options in the North must take a rights-based approach and be focused on Indigenous-led solutions. Change Champions (CCs) can help policy become standard practice; however, there is a gap in understanding how CCs are being used to facilitate transformative action on CRFI in the North. This study explores how Indigenous community and public health CCs are being leveraged and resourced by policymakers to mobilize collaborative climate action to increase food security in the North. Using content analysis, interviews/sharing circles, and a co-design workshop, this project will: (1) Describe CCs among Indigenous community and public health leaders in the North, and how their roles, responsibilities, supports, and desired outcomes are portrayed in policy, (2) Seek to understand the experiences of CCs working to operationalize action on CRFI in the North (e.g., community health representatives, cooking circle leaders, health centre physicians or nurses, etc.), and (3) Identify strategic opportunities for intersectoral/cross-jurisdiction collaboration/knowledge exchange where Northern CCs co-design strategies to better leverage public policy as a tool to mobilize action on food insecurity. The research team will consolidate policy options for all government levels and share them using policy briefs, infographics, media briefings, and community-level workshops to inform education and programming on food security in the North. This diverse and multidisciplinary research team has a strong representation from Indigenous researchers, clinicians, and collaborators.