Sustainable food system research in Yellowknife
Principal Investigator: Spring, Andrew (18)
Licence Number: 16811
Organization: Wilfrid Laurier University
Licensed Year(s): 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016
Issued: Apr 27, 2021
Project Team: Kelly Skinner, Richard McIntosh, Jennifer Temmer, Josalyn Radcliffe

Objective(s): To support the implementation of the sustainable food systems research and related local food activities in Yellowknife.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4881. The objectives of this research is to support the implementation of the sustainable food systems research and related local food activities in Yellowknife. This will be done through: 1) Working with and supporting local groups (Ecology North and the Yellowknife Farmers Market) to identify community-based strategies to promote and implement local food production and develop a sustainable food system; 2) Support on-going educational and training initiatives on local food production throughout Yellowknife that en be used as models for other communities; and, 3) Develop relationships Yellowknife Indigenous communities to determine how their food systems (including country foods) can be part of the broader discussion of sustainability in Yellowknife. Barriers to food security as well as community-based strategies to overcome these barriers will be identified and explored through a Participatory Action Research methodology and used to engage with community members. This will ensure the research is community driven and that it responds to the needs of the community stakeholders. Meetings, workshops and community events will be held to establish the research questions at the intersection of climate change and access to country food, growing food and other food system-related questions that are important to the community. The community priorities from these events will be the basis for semi-structured interviews/focus groups and surveys to be conducted with community members. Results will be presented through websites, public presentations, social media and local news. Academic presentations and publications will be co-developed with research partners. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from April 27, 2021 to December 31, 2021.