Conceptualizing Indigenous Food Sovereignty from a Coastal First Nations Perspective

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Overview

From the perspective of leaders from the 19 coastal First Nations involved in Coastal Voices, how can we define the importance of maintaining traditional food systems? How do coastal First Nations perceive social-ecological regime shifts, such as the sea otter restoration, climate change and contemporary environmental policy, impacted coastal First Nations’ roles and responsibilities related to their traditional food system?  This project uses an Indigenous food sovereignty framework to better understand coastal First Nations’ perspectives on how social-ecological changes have impacted their food systems and their solutions for restoring balance in marine food networks. These perspectives come from workshops and listening circles with Indigenous leaders from 17 coastal First Nations in British Columbia, Canada. By employing a framework that centers concepts such as Indigenous self-determination and traditional knowledge, this project aims to highlight solutions for food insecurity that aligns with Indigenous worldviews.

Project lead: Ela Vermette-Furst

Collaborators: Hannah Kobluk, Anne Salomon, Elena Bennett

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