Food security of Canadian Arctic indigenous women

• Main Author: Lambden, Allison Jill.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: McGill University 2006
• Subjects: Inuit women > Yukon > Nutrition; Tinne Indians > Yukon > Nutrition; Métis women > Yukon > Nutrition; Inuit women > Food > Yukon; Tinne Indians > Food > Yukon; Métis women > Food > Yukon; Arctic; Canada; Yukon; First Nations; inuit; Metis; Moose
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=99342

This secondary data analysis used a cross-sectional survey of 1771 Yukon First Nations, Dene/Metis, and Inuit women. The aims were to evaluate access to traditional food (TF) and market food (MF), identify perceived advantages of TF and MF, and explore under-studied characteristics of FS in Arctic Canada. Results indicate considerable regional variation in ability to afford adequate food, varying between 26 and 58%. Similarly, regional variation was reflected in the percentage of women who had access to hunting or fishing equipment. Participants described culturally relevant FS indicators: food needed to be natural, fresh, tasty, varied, healthy, safe, accessible, and convenient. Between 10 and 38% of participants noticed recent changes in the quality or health of TFs. Caribou, moose, and seal were popular TFs and considered particularly healthy. This study emphasizes the importance of TF for Arctic indigenous women's FS and the dynamic nature of FS in this population.