Research

Effects of Thawing Permafrost on Agricultural Capacity

Identified challenges and barriers to agriculture, adaptive measures and best management practices and used this information to model areas prone to change in Dawson, Central Yukon, Haines Junction, and Whitehorse/Southern Lakes agricultural regions.

Food System Theme:

  • Production and Harvesting

Resource Theme:

  • Research

Reach:

  • Yukon-Wide

Host | Contact:

  • Yukon Government (Energy, Mines and Resources - Agriculture Branch) | matthew.ball@gov.yk.ca | 867-667-5845

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Documentary Film of Adaptation Planning, Shelter-Building, and Food Harvesting: A Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in, Gwitchin, and Nisga’a Collaboration

This project employed video production and on-the-land teaching as two ways to keep traditional knowledge alive so that people can survive if floods, freeze-thaws, or other unexpected climate change-related events sever communities from access to purchased foods and materials. Documentary films were produced by students and a documentary film “Shelter, Food, and Wisdom” was completed as part of this research. Finally, an article titled ‘Moss Houses in the Circumpolar North: Architectural Traditions and Innovations That Respond to Climate Change’ was published. 

Food System Theme:

  • Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

  • Research

Reach:

  • Region-Wide

Host | Contact:

  • Project Lead, Dr. Nancy Mackin (in collaboration with Host Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nations | nancy@mackinportfolio.com

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Cultivating Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Food Systems in the North: A Review and Recommendations

In 2018, Indigenous and Northern Affairs (now Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada), on behalf of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board, posted a call for a study on the current state of Northern Food Systems. The purpose of the study was to review existing literature on Northern Food Systems and to develop a series of recommendations for how the federal government could better support the development of sustainable and resilient food systems in the North. Responding to the call, Food Secure Canada put together a team of academic and community partners to undertake the research and produce a final report.

Following the completion of the project, the authors produced a Summary Report which synthesizes the key findings and recommendations from the study: Cultivating Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Food Systems in the North: A Review and Recommendations. The Summary Report provides an overview of the key challenges and opportunities facing Northern food systems, and outlines strategies to better position federal policies and programs to support the cultivation of more robust and sustainable food systems in the North.  

The report argues that any attempts to strengthen Northern food systems and address food insecurity must be rooted in community, enabled by Indigenous knowledge, and paired with Northern-focused economic development strategies. Every region has its own unique context and there is no “one size fits all” approach. 

Food System Theme:

  • Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

  • Policy/Strategy

  • Research

Reach:

  • Pan-Northern

Host | Contact:

  • Amanda Wilson (awilson@ustpaul.ca) and Charles Levkoe (clevkoe@lakeheadu.ca)

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Bee Research Project

Research on what native bees are contributing to the pollination of local domestic berries.

Food System Theme:

  • Production and Harvesting

Resource Theme:

  • Research

Reach:

  • Yukon-Wide

Host | Contact:

  • Researcher, Maria Leung | 867-456-4900

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Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research

The Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research (AICBR) works on a variety of different initiatives related to food security, food systems and food sovereignty doing research, advocacy and education. For example, AICBR works with communities to develop their own community food security strategies, taking a whole-of-community approach, focusing on youth to build knowledge and develop research and leadership skills; informs policy from a community-based perspective; develops educational materials and tools; facilitates and organizes workshops focusing on food systems, food sovereignty and food security , and contributes to a number of online webinars (in particular, AICBR co-hosts the Northern Food Network Webinar series) and network meetings (Food Network Yukon, Arctic Food Security and Nutrition Network, among others) which help to raise up northern voices on northern issues at federal and international levels.

Food System Theme:

  • Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme(s):

  • Research

  • Policy/Strategy

  • Networking/Information Sharing

Reach:

  • Pan-Northern

Host | Contact:

  • Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research | info@aicbr.ca

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Arctic Char Fish Silage Project

This project took liquefied Arctic Char slurry and through addition of acid produced fish silage. To determine if the silage could be used as an agricultural supplement, silage was assessed for nutritional content.

Food System Theme:

  • Production and Harvesting

Resource Theme:

  • Research

Reach:

  • Yukon-Wide

Host | Contact:

  • Yukon College (Yukon Research Centre - Cold Climate Innovation)

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AgPal - Online Program and Service Finder Tool for Agriculture

A web-based discovery tool to help producers and others in the agriculture and agri-business sector. Search the tool by region for services and programs related to growing, subsidizing the hiring of farmhands, getting veterinary help, applying for grazing land, and more!

FOOD SYSTEM THEME:

  • Production and Harvesting

  • Food Skills, Knowledge and Culture

RESOURCE THEME:

  • Networking/Information Sharing

  • Training

  • Research

  • Policy/Strategy

  • Funding

REACH:

  • National

HOST | CONTACT:

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Aboriginal Food Security in Northern Canada: An Assessment of the State of Knowledge – Expert Panel on the State of Knowledge of Food Security in Northern Canada

Food insecurity presents a serious and growing challenge in Canada’s northern and remote Aboriginal communities. In 2011, off-reserve Aboriginal households in Canada were about twice as likely as other Canadian households to be food insecure. Finding lasting solutions will require the involvement not just of policy-makers but of those most affected by food insecurity: people living in the North.

In recognition of this problem, the Minister of Health, on behalf of Health Canada, asked the CCA to assess the knowledge of the factors influencing food security in the Canadian North and of the health implications of food insecurity for northern Aboriginal populations.

FOOD SYSTEM THEME:

  • Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

RESOURCE THEME:

  • Research

REACH:

  • Pan-Northern

HOST | CONTACT:

  • The Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) convenes the best experts in their respective fields to assess the evidence on complex scientific topics of public interest to inform decision-making in Canada. Search the CCA website for reports on a number of important issues which relate to food systems, Indigenous and Northern issues and climate change.

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.