Abstract
Indigenous food knowledge and practices have played a critical role in addressing the complex issues surrounding food security, health, and cultural sustainability within Indigenous communities. This research explores the importance of Indigenous food wisdom in shaping food policies in British Columbia and beyond. However, in Canada, Indigenous food systems have been significantly impacted by colonialism and neoliberal capitalist policies, which continue to affect Indigenous food security and sovereignty today. The literature review examines the historical and ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous people in Canada in exercising their traditional food ways. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes content analysis and interviews with NGOs, the research investigates the relationship between Indigenous food knowledge, food security, sovereignty, and national and international food policies within the context of colonial and socio-economic challenges. The insights gained from this research will contribute to the development of culturally appropriate policies and practices that support the self-determination of Indigenous communities in managing their own food systems. By identifying gaps in national and international frameworks, the study seeks to enhance inclusion of Indigenous voices in food policy design, contributing to the decolonization of food systems and highlighting the need for further progress in developing food policy frameworks that align with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Presenters
Zehra ZawawiStudent, PhD, University of Northern British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Fed Up: Learning From the Past, Imagining New Futures
KEYWORDS
FOOD SECURITY, FOOD POLICY, INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, INDIGENOUS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
