Reconciling Traditional Knowledge, Food Security, and Climate Change: Experience From Old Crow, YT, Canada

• Published in: Progress in community health partnerships Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 21 - 27
• Main Authors: Douglas, Vasiliki, Chan, Hing Man, Wesche, Sonia, Dickson, Cindy, Kassi, Norma, Netro, Lorraine, Williams, Megan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Johns Hopkins University Press 01.04.2014
• Subjects: Adaptation; Arctic Regions; Climate Change; Colonies & territories; Community-Based Participatory Research - methods; Community-Based Participatory Research - organization & administration; Culture; Economic change; Feeding Behavior - ethnology; Focus Groups; Food; Food Preservation - economics; Food Preservation - methods; Food security; Food storage; Food Storage - economics; Food Storage - methods; Food supply; Food Supply - economics; Food Supply - methods; Gardening - education; Gardening - methods; Humans; Indians, North American - education; Migration; Nutrition research; Nutritional Sciences - education; Traditional foods; Transportation - economics; Transportation - methods; Workshops; Yukon Territory; Canada; Alaska; Yukon Territory Canada; United States > US
• ISSN: 1557-0541; 1557-055X; 1557-055X
• DOI: 10.1353/cpr.2014.0007

Background : Because of a lack of transportation infrastructure, Old Crow has the highest food costs and greatest reliance on traditional food species for sustenance of any community in Canada’s Yukon Territory. Environmental, cultural, and economic change are driving increased perception of food insecurity in Old Crow. Objectives : To address community concerns regarding food security and supply in Old Crow and develop adaptation strategies to ameliorate their impact on the community. Methods : A community adaptation workshop was held on October 13, 2009, in which representatives of different stakeholders in the community discussed a variety of food security issues facing Old Crow and how they could be dealt with. Workshop data were analyzed using keyword, subject, and narrative analysis techniques to determine community priorities in food security and adaptation. Results : Community concern is high and favored adaptation options include agriculture, improved food storage, and conservation through increased traditional education. These results were presented to the community for review and revision, after which the Vuntut Gwitchin Government will integrate them into its ongoing adaptation planning measures.