Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Background and Purpose/Objectives: Food systems research among post-secondary students in Canada is limited, however a few studies have indicated that higher levels of food insecurity are experienced by students living on and off-campus. Groups identified that have high rates of food insecurity include international, and Indigenous students. Indigenous university students are an important sub-group to investigate, as Indigenous populations have reported higher levels of food insecurity compared to the Canadian population. Further, attending school is a major factor leading Indigenous youth to migrate to urban centres from their communities. Due to the lack of previous research with Indigenous students an exploratory qualitative investigation is proposed to examine the experiences of self-declared Indigenous university students in Guelph, Ontario, and the challenges they face in their new environments. These results will be compared with, both institutional and community resources that impact local food systems. Methodology: Data collection includes face-to-face semi-structured interviews with approximately eight self-identified Indigenous students. Focus groups will also be conducted with service providers on- and off-campus, including stakeholders at the University of Guelph, and the community of Guelph. Interview and focus group audio files will be transcribed verbatim. Data will be coded and thematic analysis conducted using NVivo. Results/Impact/Outcomes: It is anticipated the results will provide recommendations to program providers and potentially policy makers from various sectors to create resources and supports that are relevant and specific to the needs of Indigenous students at the University of Guelph.