Sowing the Seeds of Climate Resilient Indigenous Food Systems in Northwestern Ontario: Addressing Barriers to Food Security and Envisioning Pathways Forward

This thesis examines how First Nations communities in Northern Ontario currently experience their food systems. It also explores ways to build future climate resilience. This research is embedded in the work of the Braiding Food Systems project between the University of Guelph and three First Nations communities in Northern Ontario: Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, and Red Rock Indian Band. These communities are all working to strengthen their food systems. Data from interviews, focus groups, and participatory mapping activities are combined with insights from a brief literature review and content analysis of Hansard documents. These sources are analyzed through a relational systems-thinking lens to identify key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats within each community’s food system and to examine how community priorities can align with climate resilience. Findings indicate that strengthening social networks is critical for community-level resilience, though broader systemic changes are also necessary.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Guelph

Author dc:creator

• Robbins, Elisha

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Fraser, Evan
• Sarapura, Silvia

• Indigenous
• climate change
• resilience
• food security
• relational
• food sovereignty

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10214/29396

OAI record oai:identifier

https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Aatrium.lib.uoguelph.ca%3A10214%2F29396