Grant: Fellowship - Priority Announcement: IAPH Quantitative Research

Food insecurity has been described in the research literature as an urgent and pervasive public health issue for Aboriginal people (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) in Canada. Historically, the entire way of life for Aboriginal people revolved around their food source, self-sustenance, and a subsistence livelihood. However, in recent decades, Aboriginal populations living in northern communities have been increasingly vulnerable to the transformation of local culture and society, including a significant shift from a primarily subsistence way of life. Local food production in remote and northern communities is a potential avenue for improving food security, yet little information is known about how to support sustainable local food systems. The main purpose of this project is to gain a better understanding of the factors that help a community collectively move towards greater food security by their improvement of local food systems from the perspectives of community members in three remote First Nations communities in northern Ontario. The study uses a survey questionnaire and interviews that have been approved by community advisory committees in each community. Findings from the questionnaires and interviews will be used to create a conceptual model for each community that depicts key demographic, social and personal (belief and values) variables at the individual level as well as barriers to and supports for food security and local food systems at the community level. This proposed research can improve the health of First Nations populations living in northerly locations by identifying factors that can support local northern food systems and policies to strengthen community food security initiatives.