A newly released report by the Council of Canadian Academies provides an authoritative, evidence based assessment of the state of knowledge of food security in Northern Canada. The report was conducted by a 15-member multidisciplinary expert panel including UWinnipeg’s Dr. Mauro, Associate Professor, Department of Geography.
“This report is the first to characterize the state of food security across Northern Canada, documenting the challenges and opportunities and multi-sectoral and culturally appropriate response required to address this pressing issue,” said Mauro. “Indigenous communities are on the front lines – many children, women and families are struggling – and this is something all Canadians should be concerned about.”
The Panel chose to take a holistic approach to the assessment and developed a unique, people-centered framework that highlights the dynamic interplay between northern Aboriginal peoples and the diverse factors that affect their lives. As a result, the final report explores a number of complex issues and provides insights into rates of food insecurity; how factors such as culture, health, resources and rights affect food security; challenges and opportunities associated with traditional and market-based foods and broader contextual issues such as economics, environmental change, geography, colonization and intergenerational well being.
The report contains a robust and thorough analysis that will provide governments in Canada, northern aboriginal leaders, academics, and all Canadians with a foundation of knowledge critical for addressing one of Canada’s most pressing policy issues.
The full report, executive summary and video are available for download, free of charge at Aboriginal Food Security in Northern Canada: An Assessment of the State of Knowledge.
