Scale up of the learning circles: a participatory action approach to support local food systems in four diverse First Nations school communities within Canada

• Published in: BMC Public Health
• Main Authors: Ashleigh Domingo, Jennifer Yessis, Barbara Zupko, Louise Watson McEachern, Renata Valaitis, Kelly Skinner, Rhona M. Hanning
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2024
• Subjects: First Nations; Community health promotion; Participatory research; Implementation science; Learning circle; Collaboration; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19391-z; https://doaj.org/article/6636e5dfc58848be92cf3d1a756f0ccd

Abstract Background Addressing Indigenous food security and food sovereignty calls for community-driven strategies to improve access to and availability of traditional and local food. Participatory approaches that integrate Indigenous leadership have supported successful program implementation. Learning Circles: Local Healthy Food to School is a participatory program that convenes a range of stakeholders including food producers, educators and Knowledge Keepers to plan, implement and monitor local food system action. Pilot work (2014–2015) in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (BC), showed promising results of the Learning Circles (LC) approach in enhancing local and traditional food access, knowledge and skills among youth and adolescents. The objective of the current evaluation was therefore to examine the process of scaling-up the LC vertically within the Haida Nation; and horizontally across three diverse First Nations contexts: Gitxsan Nation, Hazelton /Upper Skeena, BC; Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan; and Black River First Nation, Manitoba between 2016 and 2019. Methods An implementation science framework, Foster-Fishman and Watson’s (2012) ABLe Change Framework, was used to understand the LC as a participatory approach to facilitate community capacity building to strengthen local food systems. Interviews (n = 52), meeting summaries (n = 44) and tracking sheets (n = 39) were thematically analyzed. Results The LC facilitated a collaborative process to: (1) build on strengths and explore ways to increase readiness and capacity to reclaim traditional and local food systems; (2) strengthen connections to land, traditional knowledge and ways of life; (3) foster community-level action and multi-sector partnerships; (4) drive actions towards decolonization through revitalization of traditional foods; (5) improve availability of and appreciation for local healthy and traditional foods in school communities; and (6) promote holistic wellness through steps towards food sovereignty and food security. Scale-up ...