Malek Batal1,2, Hing Man Chan3, Karen Fediuk4, Amy Ing5, Peter Berti6, Tonio Sadik7, Louise Johnson-Down5. 1. Département de nutrition, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Liliane de Stewart, CP 6128 succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3T 1A8, Canada. malek.batal@umontreal.ca. 2. Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSS du Centre-sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CReSP), 7101 Avenue du Parc, Montréal, QC, H3N 1X7, Canada. malek.batal@umontreal.ca. 3. Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada. 4. First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada. 5. Département de nutrition, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Liliane de Stewart, CP 6128 succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3T 1A8, Canada. 6. HealthBridge Foundation of Canada, 1 Nicholas Street, Suite 1004, Ottawa, ON, K1N 7B7, Canada. 7. Assembly of First Nations, 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1600, Ottawa, ON, K1P 6L5, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the traditional food (TF) systems of First Nations in Canada, including intake, barriers and promoters. METHODS: The First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study is a cross-Canada participatory study of First Nations adults below the 60th parallel that obtained data for communities excluded from other national studies. A food frequency questionnaire was used to establish frequency of TF intake (number of days in a year) to allow comparisons across ecozones/regions in Canada. Grams of TF intake were also calculated using frequency multiplied by average portions from 24-h recalls. Closed- and open-ended questions attempted to identify some of the key barriers and concerns regarding TF access and use. Multivariable analyses were run to determine what factors are associated with increased TF consumption. RESULTS: Across communities, there is a strong preference by adults to have TF in the diet more often. Consumption of land animals was most frequently reported in most ecozones except for the Pacific Maritime and Mixedwood Plains, where fish and plants, respectively, were more frequently consumed. First Nations identified structural and environmental challenges such as development, government regulations and climate change, along with household barriers such as insufficient capital for equipment and transportation, lack of time and absence of a hunter in the household. Multivariable analyses revealed that the highest intake of TF occurred in the Taiga Plains ecozone, and for older individuals and men. CONCLUSION: Identifying solutions that empower First Nations at all levels is required to overcome the multiple challenges to the inclusion of TF in the diet.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the traditional food (TF) systems of First Nations in Canada, including intake, barriers and promoters. METHODS: The First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study is a cross-Canada participatory study of First Nations adults below the 60th parallel that obtained data for communities excluded from other national studies. A food frequency questionnaire was used to establish frequency of TF intake (number of days in a year) to allow comparisons across ecozones/regions in Canada. Grams of TF intake were also calculated using frequency multiplied by average portions from 24-h recalls. Closed- and open-ended questions attempted to identify some of the key barriers and concerns regarding TF access and use. Multivariable analyses were run to determine what factors are associated with increased TF consumption. RESULTS: Across communities, there is a strong preference by adults to have TF in the diet more often. Consumption of land animals was most frequently reported in most ecozones except for the Pacific Maritime and Mixedwood Plains, where fish and plants, respectively, were more frequently consumed. First Nations identified structural and environmental challenges such as development, government regulations and climate change, along with household barriers such as insufficient capital for equipment and transportation, lack of time and absence of a hunter in the household. Multivariable analyses revealed that the highest intake of TF occurred in the Taiga Plains ecozone, and for older individuals and men. CONCLUSION: Identifying solutions that empower First Nations at all levels is required to overcome the multiple challenges to the inclusion of TF in the diet.
Entities:
Keywords:
Climate change; Ecozones; First Nations; Indigenous; Traditional food
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