Understanding the Traditional Food System of First Nations in Canada in the Context of Biodiversity ...

• Main Author: Klassen, Hannah
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa 2023
• Subjects: Biodiversity; First Nations; Traditional Foods; Dietary Diversity; Canada; Ecozones
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-29101; http://ruor.uottawa.ca/handle/10393/44895

The health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples, including their nutritional status, is poor compared to the general Canadian population. There are many causes of these disparities, including racism, poor access to health resources, and the nutrition transition. Before colonization, most First Nations across Canada consumed diets purely composed of Traditional Foods (TF) that were hunted or collected from the natural environment. TF are important for their nutritional quality, food security, and culture. However, rates of TF consumption have decreased in recent years contributing to poor dietary outcomes. The diversity and quantity of TF consumed is thought to be primarily dictated by the ecological biodiversity in the surrounding environment; however, this relationship remains untested in Canada. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of First Nations modern food systems by evaluating the relationship between ecozone biodiversity and nutritional outcomes in the form of dietary ...