Project 466915

The research question that I propose to engage with is: how can traditional knowledge be used to promote wellbeing and prevent food insecurity among Indigenous youth in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada? Food insecurity, which refers to a lack of access to safe, healthy, and sufficient food, is an important public health issue impacting Indigenous people in the NWT. Food insecurity can have negative impacts on physical and mental health. There are a variety of factors that influence food insecurity in the NWT, such as high cost of living, climate change, and the legacy of colonial policies. To respond to the unique needs of communities in the NWT facing this complex issue, further study is needed to highlight the pre-existing strengths, assets, and protective factors in NWT communities. In particular, traditional knowledge and youth have been identified as priority themes for food security research in the NWT. The objective of this research is to identify ways that traditional knowledge can be used to support wellbeing, to increase understanding of food security in the NWT, and to empower and encourage future leadership in the area of food security among Indigenous youth. This project will use a community-based participatory action research approach which focuses on centering research around community priorities and building a reciprocal relationship between researchers and community members. By actively involving youth in the research process and focusing on the unique factors impacting food security among Indigenous youth, the results of this proposed research can serve to inform health promotion programming and policies in NWT schools and communities.