Settler colonialism impedes Indigenous Peoples’ access to their lands and food sources, which negatively affects mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health. Indigenous Peoples are advocating for decolonized public health approaches that promote stronger connections and greater decision-making power among Indigenous Peoples and their food environments to address health inequities caused by colonialism. Indigenous food sovereignty (IFS) is a recognized health promotion framework that includes diverse practices and has four main principles: food is sacred, participation, self-determination, and legislation and policy. Although IFS is practiced across Canada, there is limited academic literature available about IFS in cities, where approximately half of all Indigenous Peoples in Canada currently live. To bridge this gap, we conducted a community-based participatory research project focusing on IFS practices with urban Indigenous communities located in Kingston and the Waterloo-Wellington Regions within Ontario. Using storytelling through sharing circles and one-on-one interviews, we explored: 1) relationships with land and IFS approaches, 2) pathways of policy reform supporting Indigenous land access and food environments, 3) best practices for community collaborations, and 4) the impacts of land and food sovereignty on Indigenous wellbeing. In this session, members of the research team will highlight major findings and meaningful stories from the project through a panel discussion. Attendees will be invited to join interactive breakout groups to share their reflections on findings and their own IFS experiences, along with offering insight into policy pathways, resource sharing, and opportunities for collaboration and capacity building among those engaged in IFS.
Hannah Neufeld is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Health, Wellbeing and Food Environments in the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. Her research approach for 25 years has been community-based, working with Indigenous families and communities on the revitalization of food systems and supporting maternal child feeding practices in urban settings within Canada and internationally. Dr. Neufeld has contributed to infant nutrition policy, knowledge translation platforms with the World Health Organization and currently leads a North American urban Indigenous food systems network with the Food and Agriculture Organization.