NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: food security, market food, nutrition, food environment, food affordability, food cost, food quality

Objective(s): 1. Characterize the retail food environment and the economic affordability of market foods. 2. Examine socio-economic dimensions of food affordability. 3. Document experiences and perceptions related to food security and food affordability.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5503. The aim of the project is to collect new information on the retail food environment, household socio-economic conditions, and food purchases, through both empirical measures and local knowledge. The goal is to shed new light on market food affordability and food security in the ISR, while building local and regional research capacity to lead food system research. The project is composed of three key objectives: 1. Characterize the retail food environment and the economic affordability of market foods. 2. Examine socio-economic dimensions of food affordability. 3.Document experiences and perceptions related to food security and food affordability. The approach for this study is rooted in community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, which emphasize collaboration, mutual learning, and respect for local knowledge. This approach ensures that the research process is community-driven, culturally appropriate, and responsive to local needs and contexts. A significant aspect of this approach involves hiring Community Research Leads (CRLs) in each of the six Inuit communities within the ISR. The CRLs will play a pivotal role in the research process, acting as the main point of contact between the research team and the community. They will be responsible for facilitating participant recruitment, data collection, and community engagement activities. The CRLs will be identified through a careful selection process, focusing on individuals who are community members, have a good understanding of local contexts, and have an interest in the research topic. The CRLs will receive training and ongoing support from the research team to build their research capacity and to ensure the successful implementation of the study. OBJECTIVE 1: PARTICIPATORY FOOD ENVIRONMENT SURVEY (Activity 1) Building on the Inuvialuit Participatory Food Costing Study (see Kenny et al. 2018, Food Policy for detailed methodology), the researchers are developing a new methodology for retail food environment assessments in remote northern communities. This includes the development and deployment of a smartphone application to rapidly process food price information from images of consumer receipts and the use of high-resolution smartphone cameras to systematically characterize various food quality features like produce ripeness, detecting freezer-burn and food-borne pathogens. In the first phase of the project, the researchers will pilot the methodology in two communities of the region (Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk). The approach will subsequently be extend to the additional four communities of the region in Phase 2 to collect comprehensive regional data on the retail food environment. OBJECTIVE 2: HOUSEHOLD ECONOMIC DIARIES (Activity 2) Description: Household economic diaries are a comprehensive research tool used in social and economic research that provides a nuanced view of a household's financial landscape. They capture detailed, real-time data about household spending patterns, income, and other revenues. The aim of these diaries is to gain insight into the financial behaviors, income allocation, decision-making processes, and overall economic health of households. Annotated receipt collection methodology is an innovative approach to examining and understanding the intricacies of household food purchasing habits and decision-making processes. It can be a powerful tool in food environment research as it can provide insights into the realities of food affordability and consumption patterns within households. This will allow researchers to understand the patterns of spending, the impact of income cycles and external factors on these patterns, and the decisions households make regarding food and other necessities. Participant profile: The researchers aim to recruit between 5-10 household representatives per community, resulting in a total sample of 30-60 households. The recruitment process will focus on ensuring a diverse range of households participate– including representation from different age groups, sexes and genders, income levels, household structures and involvement in traditional food harvesting activities. Nature of the participation: Participation in this component of the project will involve three major facets: a. Household economic diary: b. Annotated till receipts; c. Household survey; d. exit interviews. - 2a. Each participating household will be provided with an Economic Diary to record their daily expenses. The diary will include sections to record the date, description of the item(s), total cost, and any additional notes (such as the reason for the purchase). Additionally, there will be a space to record any income received during the period. - 2b. Participants will also be asked to save their grocery receipts over a one-month period, annotate these receipts with additional information about each purchased item. - 2c. They will also be asked to complete a pre-research survey and engage in a follow-up interview about their shopping habits, decision-making processes, and experiences with food affordability. The research team will maintain regular contact with participants throughout the process. This will include check-ins to address any questions or concerns, reminders about the diary entries, and updates on the progress of the project. At the end of each week, the research team will collect the completed diary pages for that week. This allows for ongoing data collection and the opportunity to address any issues or confusion about the diary entries. At the end of the project, participants will be debriefed and will have an opportunity to learn about the overall findings of the research. Participant recruitment: Participants will be recruited by the CRL in each community, using a variety of methods including community cooking circles, announcements at community meetings, and posts on community social media platforms. Additionally, the researchers will leverage the power of word-of-mouth referrals, which can be particularly effective in smaller, close-knit communities. The CRL will work closely with local community leaders and organizations throughout the recruitment process, to ensure that the recruitment process is transparent, respectful, culturally safe, and aligns with the values and expectations of the local community. Letters of invitation will be distributed directly to invited or interested participants. The letter will describe the objectives of the research, what participants will be asked to contribute, follow up procedure for participation in the study, and contact information should they have any questions or concerns related to the research. Interested participants will be invited to contact the CRL to schedule a time and date to initiate the research. The CRL will follow-up directly with participants one week following distribution of the invitation letter to confirm their interest, with a reminder one week prior to the workshop. Free & informed consent: Before starting the project, participants will be provided all the necessary information about the study, including the purpose of the study, what participation involves, the voluntary nature of their involvement, and how the data will be used and protected via an information letter and consent form (A2.2 Info and Consent). These documents will be reviewed with participants in a one-on-one meeting with the CRLs, where they will have the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any concerns. Participants will be informed that their involvement is on a voluntary basis and that they may withdraw at any time without the need for justification and without suffering any negative consequences. Information relating to confidentiality will also be mentioned. A written signature will be required, and a copy of the consent will be given. Participants will only be included in the project once they have given their free and informed consent, which they can withdraw at any time without penalty. Compensation: Recognizing the time and effort involved in participating in this project, all participants will receive compensation for their participation. This will take the form of an honoraria cheque, which will be provided at the end of the participation period. The value of the gift card will be commensurate with the time and effort required to participate in the project. Based on consultation with the local Community Corporations, this amount should be $50 per day, for a total of 30 days, amounting to $1,500 upon completion of the follow-up interview. Analysis: The data from the household economic diaries and annotated till receipts will be analyzed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize household income and expenditures, spending patterns, and the proportion of income spent on different categories of items. Patterns in spending and income will be examined over time to identify trends or cycles. Qualitative analysis of notes from the diaries and annotations on the receipts will be used to gain insights into the decision-making processes and contextual factors influencing spending and consumption patterns. OBJECTIVE 3A: SHOPPING GO-ALONG INTERVIEWS (Activity 3) Description: Go-along shopping interviews are a qualitative research method in which a researcher accompanies a participant during a normal shopping trip and asks them questions about their shopping behaviours, attitudes, and perceptions. The approach provides in-depth insights into the ways consumers experience and interact with their retail food environment and make food purchasing decisions. Participant profile: A diverse range of adult participants will be sought in each community – including those from different age groups, sexes and genders, income levels, and household structures. Participants from Activity 2 (Household economic diary and till receipt collection) will be prioritized for participation in the shopping go-along interviews. Nature of the participation Participation in this study involves allowing a researcher (the CRL or a university-based researcher, according to the participant’s preference and comfort) to accompany the participant during a typical shopping trip at their local store, during which the researcher will ask questions and observe shopping behaviors. Participants are encouraged to carry out their shopping as usual and are invited to share as much, or as little, as they are comfortable with during the interview. They have the right to skip any questions they do not wish to answer, and they may end the interview at any time. The duration of the shopping trip and interview will typically range from 30 to 60 minutes but may vary depending on individual shopping routines. Participants will have the option to review and revise their responses or to withdraw their data from the study up to four weeks following the interview. Participant recruitment: Participants will be recruited by the CRL in each community, using a variety of methods including community cooking circles, announcements at community meetings, and posts on community social media platforms. Additionally, we will leverage the power of word-of-mouth referrals, which can be particularly effective in smaller, close-knit communities. The CRL will work closely with local community leaders and organizations throughout the recruitment process, to ensure that the recruitment process is transparent, respectful, culturally safe, and aligns with the values and expectations of the local community. Letters of invitation will be sent directly to invited (i.e., participants who took part in the Activity 2) or interested participants (i.e., participants who responded to calls on social media, in public postings, etc.). The letter will describe the objectives of the research, what participants will be asked to contribute, follow up procedure for participation in the study, and contact information should they have any questions or concerns related to the research. Interested participants will be invited to contact the CRL to schedule a time and date for the interviews. The CRL will follow-up directly with participants one week following distribution of the invitation letter to confirm their interest, with a reminder one week prior to the workshop. Free & informed consent: Prior to the interview, participants will be provided all the necessary information about the study, including the purpose of the study, what participation involves, the voluntary nature of their involvement, and how the data will be used and protected. The researcher leading the interview will read the consent form (A2.3 Info and Consent). After reading each section, participants will be asked if they have any questions. They will be informed that their participation is on a voluntary basis and that they may withdraw at any time without the need for justification and without suffering any negative consequences. Information relating to confidentiality will also be mentioned. A written signature will be required, and a copy of the consent will be given. Consent will only be obtained after the researcher collecting the data has read the complete consent form to the participant and responded to any questions or preoccupations they have regarding the research. Compensation: Participants will be provided a $250 gift card to the local store to compensate for their time in participating in the study. This amount is based on the standard compensation for research participation in the region, as set by local Inuit organizations, which is approximately $100 per hour in 2023. Analysis: The data collected from the shopping-go-along interviews will be transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. This qualitative method allows for the identification, analysis, and interpretation of patterns or "themes" within the data. Through this approach, we aim to gain insights into participants' shopping behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions. The themes identified from the analysis will provide a rich, detailed, and complex account of the data that can be used to inform interventions aimed at improving the retail food environment. OBJECTIVE 3B - SHARING CIRCLE (Activity 4) Description: A sharing circle is a traditional Indigenous method used for group communication and decision-making. It provides an opportunity for every member of the group to share their perspectives and experiences in a respectful, egalitarian setting. Everyone in the circle is given an equal opportunity to speak, and is encouraged to share freely, fostering a collective sense of ownership and responsibility. Participant profile: The participants for the sharing circle are the Inuit CRLs from each of the six communities participating in the study. These individuals are key stakeholders and leaders within their communities who have been directly involved in leading the project locally. They possess unique insights, experiences, and knowledge about their community's food environment, socio-economic conditions, and challenges and opportunities related to food security and agency. Nature of the participation: Participation in the sharing circle involves active engagement in a dialogue about the participants' experiences and insights related to the project. The participants will be asked to share their reflections on their involvement in the research, their observations about household economic practices and food security in their communities, and their thoughts on the concept of agency in the context of the retail food sector in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. The sharing circle will be audio-recorded with the consent of the participants for accurate documentation and analysis. However, all information shared will be kept confidential and anonymized in any reports or publications resulting from this research. Participant recruitment: The CRLs will have already been engaged in the project (leading activities 1-3 detailed above) and hence, their recruitment for the sharing circle will involve a formal invitation detailing the purpose, date, time, and venue of the sharing circle. Their participation will be voluntary and based on their interest and availability. Letters of invitation will be sent directly to each CRL by the PI. The letter will describe the objectives of the research, what participants will be asked to contribute, follow up procedure for participation in the study, and contact information should they have any questions or concerns related to the research. Free & informed consent: Prior to the sharing circle, each participant will be provided with an information sheet that clearly outlines the purpose and process of the sharing circle, what will be expected of them, and how the data collected will be used and stored. They will be assured of their right to withdraw from the sharing circle at any time, without any repercussions. Compensation: Participants will be provided an honorarium of $250 per day, for a total of $500 for the two days, for their time in participating in the workshop and sharing circles. All travel expenses to and from the workshop location will be fully covered. This includes airfare, accommodations, per diems (for meals not catered during the workshop) and local transportation as needed. Analysis: The sharing circles and workshop discussions will be audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. This will allow for the identification of key themes and patterns in the experiences, perspectives, and insights shared by the community research leads. The analysis will provide valuable insights into the community's food environment, socio-economic conditions, and challenges and opportunities related to food security and the concept of ‘agency’. The findings will be instrumental in informing future research and interventions in the community. The primary target audience for the project includes regional (e.g., IRC, Inuvialuit Game Council) and community organizations in the ISR (e.g., Hamlet Council, Community Corporations, Hunters and Trappers Committees) – primary those which focus on food security, cost of living, and health and well-being. The Community Research Leads and Regional Coordinator (based at the IRC) will ensure that all periodic project updates are communicated to community leadership boards, such as the Community Corporations, from whom they will also seek feedback and advice on the project, including feedback on plans for the dissemination of research results locally. All project results will be communicated to, and validated by, the primary target audience prior to broader dissemination. We will leverage existing communication channels within the region, such as the IRC Annual Newsletter (distributed to all communities in the region) to disseminate project updates and results. The broader audience for project results includes policy makers (e.g., Nutrition North Canada, Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Sustainable Livelihoods, GNWT Anti-Poverty, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) Food Security Strategy, ITK Anti-Poverty initiatives) practitioners from public (e.g., nurses, dietitians, social workers) and private (e.g., food retail and transportation) sectors, as well as academic researchers, and the public. Targeted dissemination activities (e.g., public presentations, social media releases), including events to disseminate the result results (e.g., webinars, workshops) and a suite of communication materials (e.g., infographics, policy briefs, summaries, reports, presentations, and videos) will be co-developed to respond to the unique needs and considerations of the respective target audiences of the research. For example, in December 2022, we hosted a food security side-event at the ArcticNet Annual Meeting “Moving from Understanding to Action on Food Security in Inuit Nunangat” which convened representatives from each Inuit land claim region (including eight delegates from the ISR), ITK, and policy makers (see Naylor, Kenny et al. 2023). We intend to organize a similar event at upcoming ArcticNet gatherings, and aspire to embed further leadership from Inuit researchers and organizations in the planning process, including the CRLs in this project. Throughout the life of the project, the research team will mobilize knowledge through in-person learning opportunities, development of documentation for different audiences (program managers, decision makers, academics, community members and public), and communications (through websites, social media). In consultation with the regional and community-based project partners, we will develop communication materials (e.g., brochures, pamphlets, Facebook, website, other materials as deemed appropriate) for the public in both English and Inuvialuktun that explains the project, process, and results in an easily accessible and understandable manner. Before launching any communication materials to the public, we would like to conduct pilot tests with a smaller group of targeted audience to ensure that the materials are appropriate and effective at conveying the information. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: September 01 - December 31, 2023