Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) – released a food sovereignty and harvesting report today outlining a forward looking, solution-oriented approach to Nunavut’s food problems.

“Nunavut needs a shift from thinking about food security to food sovereignty,” says QIA President P.J. Akeeagok, “This means empowering Inuit to feed our communities.” For Inuit, who live in the Arctic, a healthy traditional diet means heavy emphasis on animals and fish harvested from surrounding lands and waters. Colonization has disconnected many Inuit from the traditional practices of harvesting. As a result, Nunavut suffers from chronic food insecurity with over 70 per cent of Nunavummiut as food insecure. Achieving food sovereignty in Nunavut means supporting harvesters, re-establishing connections to harvesting culture, and building the infrastructure needed to allow Inuit to control the local food supply.

QIA’s food sovereignty and harvesting report envisions a Nunavut where country food is a readily available choice for families and harvesting is a viable livelihood. QIA’s goal is for every Inuk in the Qikiqtani Region to have stable and long-term access to locally harvested country food.
https://qia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Food-Sovereignty-and-Harvesting.pdf