Nunavut has the highest prevalence of food insecurity in Canada

Nunavut has the highest prevalence of food insecurity in Canada

http://soa.arcus.org/abstracts

Food Insecurity Among Inuit Women in Igloolik, Nunavut: The Role of
Climate Change and Multiple Stressors

Maude Beaumier1, James D. Ford2, Marie-Pierre Lardeau3
1Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal,
QC, H3A 2K6, Canada, Phone 514-398-4400, Fax 514-398-7437,
maude.beaumier@mail.mcgill.ca
2Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal,
QC, H3A 2K6, Canada, Phone 514-398-4400, Fax 514-398-7437,
james.ford@mcgill.ca
3Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal,
QC, H3A 2K6, Canada, Phone 514-398-4400, Fax 514-398-7437,
marie-pierre.lardeau@mail.mcgill.ca

Abstract:

The territory of Nunavut has the highest prevalence of food insecurity in
Canada, where over 50% of Inuit households are believed to experience
difficulties in obtaining sufficient food. This significantly exceeds the
Canadian average of 9.2%. Food insecurity is manifest when food systems
are stressed such that adequate nutrition is not accessible, available
and/or of sufficient quality. Several studies have reported food systems
to be negatively affected by economic, social and cultural transformations
and climate change. Inuit women have been identified to be particularly
vulnerable to food insecurity and more at risk to climate change. Food
insecurity can have serious implications for women's physical and mental
health, and social well-being resulting in increased susceptibility to
infection and chronic health afflictions. This paper examines how climate
change might affect Inuit women's food security using a case study from
the community of Igloolik, Nunavut, and drawing on a mixed methods
approach, including semi-structured interviews with 36 women, focus groups
with 19 women, and interviews with local and territorial health
professionals and policy makers. Results show a high prevalence of food
insecurity with 76% of women skipping or reducing size of their meals in
2008 and 40% reporting not eating enough food when food supplies run out.
Multiple determinants of food insecurity operating over different
spatial-temporal scales were identified including food affordability and
budgeting, food knowledge, education and preferences, food quality and
availability, absence of a full time hunter in the household, and the cost
of harvesting. These determinants are operating in the context of changing
livelihoods, addictions, poverty and climate related stresses, which in
many cases are exacerbating food insecurity. The identification of
pathways through which climate affects female food security in the context
of other stresses is particularly important for policy responses to
strengthen Inuit food security.