Arak Journal

The Impossible Choice: A Look at Food Insecurity in Indigenous Nations

By Sanika Nawathe

We hear news stories about major problems plaguing society every day: melting polar ice caps, global warming, endangered species, and chronic illnesses like diabetes. Many people can go on for years ignoring these issues thinking they will not be affected or that solutions will be developed. Climate change and food insecurity are two major issues affecting populations all over the world, but some groups are affected at much higher rates than others. In this paper, I will define food insecurity as the lack of regular access to nutritional and affordable food. In addition, I use the terms Indigenous or Aboriginal to describe the populations and cultures of First Nations in Northern Canada and Alaska. Climate change and food insecurity are creating food deserts that impact Indigenous groups in ways people are not aware of. The consequences of climate change have not only taken away the ability to have reliable food sources but have also taken away major parts of Aboriginal culture, like hunting caribou. Specifically in Canada and Alaska, Indigenous people are losing parts of their heritage and are struggling to survive because of the lasting effects of climate change on their food sources and wellbeing. 

Hunting and harvesting have been the traditional way for Indigenous people to get food. Indigenous children grew up eating foods like seal meat, caribou, and cold-water fish, but when the Canadian government started to colonize their land, they forced the children to give up their traditional food in residential schools to assimilate into Canadian culture (Bilefsky). Generations of Indigenous children became adults who lost touch with their heritage. Now, as the Canadian government tries to reconcile its colonial past, they encourage Indigenous culture to be embraced throughout Canada. According to Algonquin chef Cezin Nottaway, Indigenous chefs are starting to embrace traditional cooking techniques,” and are using this as one way to take back their cultures (Bilefsky). By sharing traditional foods with groups such as the Canadian Parliament, Indigenous chefs are making sure their culture is seen. Even though Aboriginal food is starting to be embraced in Canada, there are still a lot of controversies, specifically with animal rights groups. According to Chef Nottaway, they were taught that they shouldn’t feel sorry for killing animals, since they suffer and are lonely if they are not hunted,” and should respect animals and pray to the animal spirits to show [their] thanks” (Bilefsky). Animal rights groups, however, still feel that this is inhumane, but what they do not understand is that hunting and meat are a large part of Indigenous culture, and it is much different from how mainstream meat-packing plants operate. Furthermore, by cooking and hunting, Indigenous nations can shift back to traditional diets and preserve their culture. 

To explore public opinion on whether Indigenous groups should be allowed to hunt, I surveyed twenty-five 14-22-year-old individuals, who were a mix of omnivores and vegetarians. When asked if Indigenous tribes, specifically in Northern Canada and Alaska, should be allowed to hunt, 72% of respondents said that they agree with the statement on some level; only 28% of people surveyed had a neutral response to the question. Out of the seven respondents who identified as vegetarian, six agreed that Indigenous tribes should be allowed to hunt, and the other respondent had a neutral view. (See Appendix A). Even though this sample may not be the most representative example of the vegan and vegetarian community, it suggests that not every individual who follows a plant-based diet is opposed to Indigenous populations hunting, but they do believe that some hunting restrictions should be put into place for the general population. Hunting in Indigenous tribes should be protected because of its central role in their culture and livelihood. 

Hunting caribou has been a part of Indigenous heritage not only as a food source but also as a way to connect with nature and other tribes. In her article, Biology student and researcher Emily Yeung notes that Indigenous tribes have been dependent on caribou for food, clothing, and crafts, but their cultural connection to the animal goes so much deeper. Hunting caribou is as much about strengthening traditional knowledge and relationships between people as it is about the necessities of life,” which is why losing the freedom to hunt and caribou populations would result in huge losses of their identities (Yeung). The history behind the connection of tribes to caribou begins in a legend. According to traditional Dene legend a young boy became a caribou to ensure his people would always be connected to the animal. In Northern Canada and Alaska, eight Indigenous nations have connections to the caribou (Yeung). These nations have a mutual need to preserve the caribou,” which has brought nations together [and] has recognized traditional knowledge as vital to conservation efforts” (Yeung). As caribou populations continue to dwindle, the nations must work together to preserve them for future generations. Hunting and reclaiming Indigenous culture also helps to cut the rates of food insecurity in First Nations.

As noted earlier, food insecurity is defined as the chronic lack of access to affordable, nutritious food. When there are severe disconnects between getting healthy food and having it regularly, people must rely on less nutritious sources that are usually prepackaged and contain large amounts of sugar and unhealthy fats. According to Professor David Natcher, Indigenous people were once reliant solely on the procurement of wild foods,” which included caribou and other sources of protein and healthy fats (Natcher et al.).  Indigenous people’s bodies have adapted after relying on wildlife for generations, so when they started to introduce southern, processed foods, they faced major health consequences (Natcher et al.). Grocery stores tend to be very scarce and far from reservations. Even if they can make it to the grocery store, the prices for milk and produce are very expensive because of transportation costs. Thus, people turn to closer convenience stores that carry less nutrient-dense options. Fresh fruit and milk are replaced by cheaper options like juice concentrate and powdered milk. According to a survey from the Inuit Child Health, 35% of surveyed children’s food energy came from non-nutrient dense foods such as chips, candy, soft drinks, and fruit juice,” because these options are very filling for a low cost, which can help deter the stress of food insecurity (Huet et al.). Turning to cheaper, processed foods is very common for families that are affected by food insecurity, but high consumption rates of retail foods can lead to illnesses and disease. However, a study by the Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic research group found that households that have an active hunter, and thus have regular access to wildfoods, are significantly less vulnerable to food insecurity and health-related illness,” so they can live healthier lives (Natcher et al.). Regular hunting trips are out of reach for low-income households because they can cost upwards of $200 to cover food and lodging (qtd in Boult 2004). Time is also another issue because hunters must find and set aside the time to harvest and hunt while maintaining a job, and hunting trips usually last days.  

There are many causes of food insecurity in addition to a family’s socioeconomic standing and time. Food insecurity as a whole issue is complex because it is affected by many factors such as location, family life, and weather. Households in the Inuit nation of Arctic Canada have rates of food insecurity that are almost six times greater than the average Canadian household (Huet et. al). Not having access to nutritious foods regularly can have detrimental long-term effects on child physical, mental, cognitive, and psychosocial health and development” (Huet et. al). When children regularly experience hunger and do not have access to food, they often go days without eating. Multiple studies which tracked the effects of food insecurity on children have found that some conditions that developed in adults who were food insecure as children include increased rates of anemia and delayed physical and social development, high prevalence of diabetes, and increasing rates of obesity,” further emphasizing the fact that the consequences of food insecurity are directly reaped by Indigenous children, and they often grow up to be adults who face these same problems years later (Natcher et al.). These children must live with life-threatening conditions, and as adults, they have to pay for medications and treatments that take away large parts of their incomes. A cross-sectional study from BMC Public Health assesses the effects of seasons and the number of children on food security in Inuit households. The study found that households with children were significantly more food insecure than households without children,” but there were no significant differences between food security in May versus in September (Huet et. al). This could be because households with children have to feed more people versus households without. In households with only adults, they could also work or have some way of getting an income to pay for food. 

Another interesting finding from the study to note is that many households consumed dried meat at higher rates in September. This could reflect the ability to produce large quantities of dried foods during the warmer and drier summer months when meat can be laid out in the sun,” which means Inuit people have to plan months in advance to ensure a steady food supply (Huet et. al). In northern Canada and Alaska, Indigenous nations face problems with finding regular and healthy food sources. To find ways around the lack of food, Indigenous parents must devise creative solutions to provide meals. A 1999 New York Times article called the Inuit masters of adaptation, a people with few natural resources whose ability to exploit their surroundings,” which has helped them survive in the Arctic (Depalma). Despite this capacity for adaptation, Indigenous diets are also incorporating prepackaged foods like corn chips and frozen chicken along with traditional foods like caribou and seal meat. 

As stated above, Indigenous populations face food insecurity because of location and financial hardship, but another cause is pollutants. As pesticides and industrial waste are released in the water and air, the pollutants start to settle in the Arctic region because of the cold temperatures. These contaminants travel to northern regions and are stored in sea mammals like seals that have a thick layer of fat,” which causes harm to food sources and Indigenous people (Depalma). Indigenous people must choose between eating traditional foods that are packed with pollutants, and giving up their culture and health. Buying meat from the grocery store is also not possible for most Aboriginal households. The meat is often too expensive and as Chezin Nottaway notes in a New York Times article, mass-produced meat is often treated with additives and chemicals,” making traditional meat a much healthier option (Bilefsky). Most Indigenous adults grew up on fully traditional diets, and their foods are a large part of their culture, so they are reluctant to give it up. By relying on less nutritious, packaged options from convenience stores to supplement traditional foods, Indigenous people put themselves at risk. 

On top of pollutants like PCBs and DDT, Indigenous nations also face the immediate effects of climate change. Even though society continues to damage the planet, most people do not see the direct harm they are doing, which causes them to think they will not be affected for a long time. This may be the case for the average citizen, but according to a report by the Human Rights Watch, climate change has a particularly?. effect on Indigenous populations depleting food sources and affecting health” of First Nations (?Canada: Climate Crisis on First Nations’ Food Supply”). Climate change is hurting traditional food sources by endangering animals and not providing favorable environments for harvest, and as noted above, Indigenous people must supplement their diets with packaged foods, which harm their health. Northern Canada is warming at a much higher rate than the rest of the world, approximately three times faster. These effects of climate change barely scratch the surface; as sea levels continue to rise, First Nations will lose hunting land and access to sea life. The problems will only continue to get worse unless action is taken by the Canadian government. Even though Canada is a part of the Paris Agreement, it has not been meeting its goals of reducing carbon emissions. The Canadian government recognizes that food security is a critical issue and that more work is needed to cut emissions,” but it has not given enough? concrete solutions on how to fix these problems (?Canada: Climate Crisis on First Nations’ Food Supply”). Better climate policies must be put into place, so Indigenous nations have better chances of survival and so that other Canadians will not face these problems. 

Although climate change is a pressing issue for Indigenous communities, addressing food insecurity should be the main focus of reform. Indigenous people also face issues in healthcare, education, and equality, many of which stem from food insecurity. Food insecurity will harm Indigenous people in the short term because of its health effects, but climate change will take slightly longer to run its course. Because of the global repercussions of climate change, many studies still retain a central focus on climate,” making it easy to overlook the pressing issues vulnerable communities face (Huntington). If problems like food insecurity are not addressed immediately, Indigenous groups will not be able to survive. True, First Nations have learned to adapt to changing conditions and locations, but at what cost? They have had to give up parts of their culture, their sacred lands, and have faced unequal treatment for generations. In the current discussion of climate change, there is an emphasis on people in relationship to the environment, not just the air and the ice in the focus on degrees C and shrinking glaciers and sea ice,” which is important because it specifically focuses on the needs of Indigenous people instead of only the climate. This emphasis helps to ensure that Indigenous lives and areas are the primary focus of much needed reform (Huntington). First Nations have protected lands and treated them correctly, so it is up to the government and other groups to make sure they do not have to keep uprooting their lives and traditions. Problems like food insecurity were affecting Indigenous people even before climate change became a larger issue, so if researchers solely focus on climate change, they miss the dangerous consequences of food insecurity in the short run.

Indigenous nations in Northern Canada and Alaska have faced insurmountable problems, but they have learned to adapt and move ahead; however, they should not have to continue to reconstruct their lives and cultures while no real change is being made to alleviate their growing problems. When governments and organizations are rethinking policies to better suit the environment and population, they must take Aboriginal groups into account because they are the ones who will reap the consequences first and are the most vulnerable to changes that will negatively impact the environment. The larger issues of food insecurity and the loss of Indigenous culture will only continue to get worse as the climate changes. Even though climate change is an important issue that harms Indigenous populations, an exclusive focus on this one part does not begin to address this complex problem fully. Climate change will affect all groups of people at one point or another, and society is already seeing the damage it has done. Wildfires that last weeks, rising sea levels, having unusually warm weather in the middle of November, and the number of animals on the endangered species list will only continue to increase if action is not taken. The problems stated above are already negatively impacting Indigenous life and have implications for all of us. Eventually, we will all have to confront that fact.

There was a mistake in the initial survey that was distributed. The one person who responded 14-18 is 18 years old, so there were 24 18-22-year-old respondents and 1 14-17-year-old. The other information in the survey has not been affected by this error.

Works Cited

Bilefsky, Dan. In Canada, Hunting and Preserving an Indigenous Way of Life.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 Jan. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/16/dining/canada-indigenous-cooks.html.

“Canada: Climate Crisis Toll on First Nations; Food Supply.” States News Service, 21 Oct. 2020, p. NA. Gale Academic OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A639136024/AONE?u=udel_main&sid=AONE&xid=7a8cbd0d. Accessed 24 Oct. 2020.

Depalma, Anthony. Igloolik Journal; An Arctic Meal: Seal Meat, Corn Chips and PCB’s.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 5 Feb. 1999, www.nytimes.com/1999/02/05/world/igloolik-journal-an-arctic-meal-seal-meat-corn-chips-and-pcb-s.html.  

Huet, Catherine, et al. “Food insecurity and food consumption by season in households with children in an Arctic city: a cross-sectional study.” BMC Public Health, vol. 17, no. 1, 2017. Gale Academic OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A511353946/AONE?u=udel_main&sid=AONE&xid=53c30eb9. Accessed 24 Oct. 2020.

Huntington, Henry P, et al. Climate Change in Context: Putting People First in the Arctic.” Regional Environmental Change, vol. 19, no. 4, 2019, pp. 1217?1223., doi:10.1007/s10113-019-01478-8.

Natcher, David, et al. Constraints to Wildlife Harvesting among Aboriginal Communities in Alaska and Canada.” Food Security : The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, vol. 8, no. 6, 2016, pp. 1153?1167., doi:10.1007/s12571-016-0619-1.

Yeung, Emily. “Lifeblood of the North: Caribou is legend, food, teacher, clothing and identity for many first peoples.” Alternatives Journal, vol. 44, no. 1, 2019, p. 38+. Gale Academic OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A626504570/AONE?u=udel_main&sid=AONE&xid=3f9a50de. Accessed 24 Oct. 2020.

Paper Prompt

This 8-10 page research paper  (2,000-2,500 word) should be a persuasive argument meant to convince your audience that your viewpoint is reasonable. Topic must be related to food and approved by me. You must have a minimum of 7-9 sources. Three of these sources must be very high quality sources?peer reviewed, academic and current, often written by more than one person. Your other sources may be a mix that include books, high quality news sources or other high quality web sources such as .gov, .org or .edu

The paper, due Midnight Saturday Nov.14, must include:

• a works cited page without the annotations,
• as well as an outline.
• word count at end of paper and before works cited

The following are guidelines for that I will use in evaluating your final research paper.

MLA format

• Works cited page
• In-text citations
• Page layout

Content

• Solid thesis
• Introductory paragraph that sets up the context
• Arguable points
• At least 3 academic/peer-reviewed articles
• Other reliable sources
• Support for your argument/persuasion
• touch on opposing argument/viewpoint
• Evidence of pathos, ethos, logos
• Attention to paragraph modes (description, process, division and classification, etc)
• Strong or creative conclusion

Style

• Correct voice, tone, word choice
• No fluff, minimal wordiness* very important DO NOT PAD your paper with fluff
• Clear topic sentences
• Smooth transitions
• Clear organization