FEED THE CULTURE, FEED THE PEOPLE:
Understanding the Role of Indigenous Young People in Revitalizing Food Systems
Marika Maj, MLWS 2022
Globally, nationally, and provincially, there has been an acknowledgement of the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples to their territories, traditions, and foods, with an interest in paving a pathway toward reconciliation through Canada’s adoption of the globally founded United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and British Columbia’s implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. The provincial-level act led the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food to work with Indigenous members comprising the recently established British Columbia Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food to enhance the equitable participation of Indigenous Peoples in food systems. The ministry and council have identified a priority to strengthen Indigenous food security, food sovereignty, and build food system resilience to advance Indigenous self-determination, further self-sufficiency, improve resilience to climate change, prioritize the revitalization of cultures, and advance lasting and meaningful reconciliation. There is particular interest in understanding the role Indigenous young people play in meeting this priority due to their perceived vitality among Elders and Indigenous leaders in sustaining food systems for future generations and ensuring food system resilience and cultural continuity.
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The objectives of this paper were to (1) investigate the challenges and opportunities in strengthening Indigenous food security, food sovereignty, and food system resilience within Canada, while assessing the relevance to food system participation of Indigenous young people in British Columbia; and to (2) provide recommendations to the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the British Columbia Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food to aid in their mission to promote Indigenous young people’s equitable, active, and meaningful participation within food systems in British Columbia. The objectives were met through a semi-systematic literature review. This paper intends to lay the foundation for future work that directly engages Indigenous young people in research and decision-making related to food systems in British Columbia.
