Exploring Indigenous-informed contributions to decision-making to support improved food security in Canada: a scoping review

Indigenous-informed food security initiatives are gaining global recognition for their potential to foster sustainable, community-minded solutions, while centering environmental stewardship, and the preservation of culturally significant foodways. Despite this growing acknowledgement, Indigenous inv...

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Main Authors: Camille Slack, Tamara Donnelly, Sonia D. Wesche, Tiff-Annie Kenny
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:International Journal of Circumpolar Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2025.2497594
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author Camille Slack
Tamara Donnelly
Sonia D. Wesche
Tiff-Annie Kenny
author_facet Camille Slack
Tamara Donnelly
Sonia D. Wesche
Tiff-Annie Kenny
author_sort Camille Slack
collection DOAJ
description Indigenous-informed food security initiatives are gaining global recognition for their potential to foster sustainable, community-minded solutions, while centering environmental stewardship, and the preservation of culturally significant foodways. Despite this growing acknowledgement, Indigenous involvement in decision-making related to improved food security in Canada remains underexplored. This review aims to contribute to deepened understandings of how Indigenous inputs are guiding current food security decision-making processes, and how these approaches are being applied in the context of mixed food systems throughout Canada. A systematic search of five online databases was conducted to examine the existing literature on Indigenous-informed food security efforts in Canada, exploring key themes, gaps and recommendations. Yielding a total of 1916 results, 39 of which were retained for further analysis, this search highlighted a broad swath of initiatives, programs, policies and strategies, developed by, in partnership with, or centering the perspectives of Indigenous communities. These existing initiatives frame how Indigenous groups are already guiding food security action in Canada, and what factors need to be considered to ensure on-going effectiveness. Findings highlight the need for more collaborative, cross-sectoral, community-minded food security initiatives, which integrate both support for Indigenous self-determination and recognize the validity of traditional knowledges within decision-making processes at all levels.
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spelling doaj-art-49229b6b4d634cdd98f3ba07be99d5f52025-08-20T03:19:23ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Circumpolar Health2242-39822025-12-0184110.1080/22423982.2025.2497594Exploring Indigenous-informed contributions to decision-making to support improved food security in Canada: a scoping reviewCamille Slack0Tamara Donnelly1Sonia D. Wesche2Tiff-Annie Kenny3Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaSchool of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDépartement de nutrition, Université de Montréal, Montréal Québec, CanadaIndigenous-informed food security initiatives are gaining global recognition for their potential to foster sustainable, community-minded solutions, while centering environmental stewardship, and the preservation of culturally significant foodways. Despite this growing acknowledgement, Indigenous involvement in decision-making related to improved food security in Canada remains underexplored. This review aims to contribute to deepened understandings of how Indigenous inputs are guiding current food security decision-making processes, and how these approaches are being applied in the context of mixed food systems throughout Canada. A systematic search of five online databases was conducted to examine the existing literature on Indigenous-informed food security efforts in Canada, exploring key themes, gaps and recommendations. Yielding a total of 1916 results, 39 of which were retained for further analysis, this search highlighted a broad swath of initiatives, programs, policies and strategies, developed by, in partnership with, or centering the perspectives of Indigenous communities. These existing initiatives frame how Indigenous groups are already guiding food security action in Canada, and what factors need to be considered to ensure on-going effectiveness. Findings highlight the need for more collaborative, cross-sectoral, community-minded food security initiatives, which integrate both support for Indigenous self-determination and recognize the validity of traditional knowledges within decision-making processes at all levels.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2025.2497594Indigenous peoplesCanadafood securityfood sovereigntydecision-makingcommunity engagement
spellingShingle Camille Slack
Tamara Donnelly
Sonia D. Wesche
Tiff-Annie Kenny
Exploring Indigenous-informed contributions to decision-making to support improved food security in Canada: a scoping review
International Journal of Circumpolar Health
Indigenous peoples
Canada
food security
food sovereignty
decision-making
community engagement
title Exploring Indigenous-informed contributions to decision-making to support improved food security in Canada: a scoping review
title_full Exploring Indigenous-informed contributions to decision-making to support improved food security in Canada: a scoping review
title_fullStr Exploring Indigenous-informed contributions to decision-making to support improved food security in Canada: a scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Indigenous-informed contributions to decision-making to support improved food security in Canada: a scoping review
title_short Exploring Indigenous-informed contributions to decision-making to support improved food security in Canada: a scoping review
title_sort exploring indigenous informed contributions to decision making to support improved food security in canada a scoping review
topic Indigenous peoples
Canada
food security
food sovereignty
decision-making
community engagement
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2025.2497594
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