NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: social sciences, food security, nutrition

Objective(s): To develop an understanding of Inuit dietary change in Canada, with respect to environmental, cultural, economic and social constraints.

Project Description: The objectives of this project are: 1) to develop a quantitative understanding of Inuit dietary change in Canada, with respect to environmental, cultural, economic and social constraints; 2) to predict the possible changes of Inuit diet composition and nutrient intakes as a result of environmental changes; and 3) to relate the broader dynamics of environmental change to Inuit food system change through simulation modeling based on systems dynamics methodology. This research projects builds upon previous work by researchers from the University of Ottawa, the University of Northern British Columbia, and the University of Toronto, whom convened in the Inuvik in July of 2012 as part of a working group to empower communities to promote health, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). The research herein proposed involves conducting a workshop in Inuvik with a diverse range of local stakeholders (e.g. harvesters, nutritionists, health professionals) to collaboratively envision and discuss the dynamics of food system change, including consideration of climate change adaptation and sustainability. The objective of the workshop is to develop a complete conceptual model of the local food system, identifying the critical variables and dynamics of change. Conceptual modeling often represents the initial phase of Systems Dynamics methodology and provides the framework within which the issue is framed and the graphical representation of the system is defined. In preparation to the workshop, a sufficiently broad spectrum of stakeholders, including those with connections to policy makers, will be identified (Lynam et al., 2007; Sandker et al., 2010). Based on experiences documented in the participatory modeling literature, the optimal number of participants to fuel creativity, represent a sufficiently broad knowledge base, and be effectively facilitated in a group setting, is generally 15 – 20. The workshop will commence with an introduction to the participants, defining the code of conduct and responsibilities, the modeling guidelines and the principles of systems dynamics modeling. System conceptualization will involve various activities including: identifying the major drivers of food system of change, brainstorming on possible future scenarios, identifying “undesired” and “desired” outcomes expressed from different stakeholder perspectives, and discussing possible interventions. Participants will identify a set of critical questions to be addressed by the model, as well as define the temporal and spatial scale of the model. Dynamics of food system change and food security identified in the initial food system conceptualization will be organized thematically and participants will convene in focus groups to formulate graphical representation of each subsystem (e.g. harvest and wildlife population dynamics, allocation of household resources for traditional activities). The group of participants will reconvene to communicate results from the focus groups, conceptualize the dynamics between subsystems, and establish a reference mode for the model. Informed by the insights obtained during the participatory modeling workshop, a preliminary model will be constructed and communicated to the participants for consultation at a further date. Accordingly, the workshop will end with a discussion of project time lines, and establish an inclusive strategy for future meetings and/or consolations – including a communication strategy for key model developments and deliverables to the community. Participants of the study will have the opportunity to convene with those working in their field of expertise and have the satisfaction of contributing to the development of new approaches to promote food security and environmental sustainability within their communities. This research will yield new approaches to promote food security and wildlife management. This project has the potential to identify the best practices in promoting public health and environmental sustainability. This project will involve a 2-day workshop in Inuvik gathering about 15 participants from different communities of the ISR and Yellowknife. A report will be written and presented to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and to the participants to the workshop. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from March 18, 2014 to December 31, 2014.