Sharing Intergenerational Food Stories on the Land and Online to Engage Mi’kmaw Children in Indigenous Food Sovereignty

• Published in: Healthy Populations Journal
• Main Authors: Bujold, Renee, Fox, Ann, Martin, Debbie, Paul, Clifford
• Other Authors: Dr. Ann Fox, St FX University, Dr. Debbie Martin, Dalhousie University, Elder Kerry Prosper, St FX University, Kara Pictou, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaw, St FX Centre of Innovation and Employment, MITACS Accelerate Program
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Healthy Populations Institute 2023
• Subjects: Indigenous Health; Health Promotion; Nutrition; Enivironmental Health; Indigenous Food Sovereignty; Intergenerational Storytelling; Land-based Learning; Online Technology; Two-Eyed Seeing; Mi'kmaw Knowledge; Mi’kmaw
• Online Access: https://ojs.library.dal.ca/hpj/article/view/11482; https://doi.org/10.15273/hpj.v3i1.11482

Introduction: Within Indigenous cultures, stories about food and health have been shared on the land because the land, air, water, and ice are where food naturally grows and exists. Yet, Indigenous children are increasingly using online technologies to gather knowledge and share stories with their communities. Objectives: Through analyzing a storytelling session led by a Mi’kmaw Knowledge Keeper, this paper explores how land-based learning can come together with online technology to engage children in Indigenous food sovereignty. Methods: This study is situated within an intergenerational Mi’kmaw foods project called the Land2Lab Project and is guided by Two-Eyed Seeing and decolonial theory. We used narrative inquiry to explore a Knowledge Keeper’s storytelling session that was conducted with 14 Mi’kmaw children. Results: Through this study we learned that we can prioritize Mi’kmaw knowledge both on the land and online. Yet, spending time on the land intergenerationally learning about Mi’kmaw foodways is imperative to maintaining Mi’kmaw food knowledge and engaging children in Indigenous food sovereignty. Conclusion/Discussion: While online technology may seem paradoxical to land-based learning, some elements of intergenerational storytelling can happen online and on the land, and both can be used to support the protection of Mi’kmaw knowledge systems, foodways, and health for future generations.