Analysis of a Food Assessment Survey for Food Security and Food Sovereignty of the Chugach Region

• Main Author: Nyholm, Joseph J.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: University of Alaska Anchorage 2022
• Subjects: nutrition; Alaska; Alutiiq; Eyak; Chugach region; alutiiq; eyak
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11122/12962

A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Dietetics & Nutrition This project analyzed a food assessment questionnaire that was conducted amongst the Alutiiq and Eyak peoples in the Chugach region of Alaska in 2016-2017. This questionnaire, conducted by the Chugach Regional Resource Commission, garnered 87 responses from seven communities. The project used meaningful data analysis of the questionnaire results to discuss food security and food sovereignty in the Chugach region. Additionally, this project formulated recommendations based on recent findings and research in the area of food security and food sovereignty in rural Alaska. The questionnaire was split into six sections: Community Food Resources, Diet and Health, Culture, Organization and Governance, Food Resources, and Natural Resources and Environment. Overall, results showed that participants thought nutritious foods were hard to attain in their communities due to fuel and transportation costs, and that the use of traditional foods should be shared with younger generations. Questionnaire participants believed traditional knowledge should be shared via hands-on learning or classes rather than in recipe books. Results also showed that participants wanted leadership, both local and national, to make regulations better fit their community and to understand the high price of food. In terms of the environment, most participants were aware of climate change and warming but less aware of specifics, such as ocean acidity.