{"id":142,"date":"2021-04-30T10:57:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T14:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.bowdoin.edu\/gov-2577-spring-2021-security-of-arctic-communities-food-infrastructure\/?page_id=142"},"modified":"2021-05-21T13:39:09","modified_gmt":"2021-05-21T17:39:09","slug":"emma-kyzviat","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/courses.bowdoin.edu\/gov-2577-spring-2021-security-of-arctic-communities-food-infrastructure\/arctic-issues-and-policy-ideas\/emma-kyzviat\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Change Driven Food Insecurity in Nunavut"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo of an Inuit woman with a baby on her back hunting for ringed seal on the sea ice near Arctic Bay. Once a seal surfaces, the hook is used to drag it out of the water (Image source).\u00a0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Background<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Food insecurity is one of the largest challenges facing Indigenous communities in the Arctic, and has been severely exacerbated by climate change in the past decade. Traditional concepts of food insecurity have historically relied on more reformist ideology: the development of niche markets, agricultural subsidies, market-led reforms, etc. However, this view has failed to address the needs of subsistence communities that prioritize self-determination, cultural traditions, social\/ethical sustainability, and social justice in an attempt to achieve food security and food sovereignty. As mentioned on the <\/span>Important Terminology<\/a><\/span> tab, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, a multinational, non-governmental organization representing the Inuit peoples, developed a more holistic, balanced definition of food security for Inuit communities. Their definition relies on the inherent connection between the Inuit and their surrounding ecosystem, and the ability to access, care-take, protect, and respect their environment. For the Inuit, food security is not just about access and availability, but also the ability to continue pursuing a subsistence style of life.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Case Study: Food Insecurity in Nunavut<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nunavut, the largest, northernmost territory in Canada, separated from the Northwest territories in 1999 through the Nunavut Act and Nunavut Claims Settlement Act. It is the second least populated territory in Canada, with 83% of its population being Inuit. Nearly 70% of Inuit homes in Nunavut are food insecure, which is eight times higher than the Canadian average, and one of the highest rates for an Indigenous population in a developed country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Nunavut, the northern most province, is the only territory highlighted in dark purple to indicate the extreme levels of food insecurity present in the region (Image source).<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inuit Diet<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Inuit communities divide their diet into two categories: country food<\/em> and market food<\/em>. Country food is a term used to describe the traditional Inuit subsistence diet, including meat, fish, birds, and foraged food. Country food not only provides many health benefits, but it is an integral part of Inuit identity and culture, and contributes to the self-sufficiency of Inuit communities. Market food, on the other hand, refers to food shipped into Nunavut and sold at local grocery stores. While market foods may seem accessible and convenient for these remote Inuit communities, they have become exorbitantly expensive and the main force behind health issues among Inuit peoples.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by Acadia Johnson for NPR depicting the shoreline of Arctic Bay full of qamutiks, traditional sleds that families fill with gear and food for extended hunting trips (Image source).<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the following video, you hear from Matty Matheson, a popular Canadian chef that traveled to Nunavut, and his conversations with Inuit people about their traditional diet and the challenges they are facing with rising market prices and changing climatic conditions. Matty is even able to talk with Leesee Papatsie, the founder of Nunavut\u2019s <\/span>Feeding My Family <\/span><\/i>campaign, about her local efforts and hopes for future national assistance programs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n