“We call it soul food”: Inuit women and the role of country food in health and well-being in Nunavut
Indigenous knowledge is central to understanding environment and health sciences in the Arctic, yet limited research in these fields has explored the human–animal–environment interface from the unique perspectives of Inuit women. Using a community-led, Inuit-centred research approach, we characteriz...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Arctic Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2023-0038 |
| _version_ | 1797255093072953344 |
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| author | Amy Caughey Pitsiula Kilabuk Theresa Koonoo Igah Sanguya Martha Jaw Jean Allen Michelle Doucette Jan Sargeant Helle Moeller Sherilee L. Harper |
| author_facet | Amy Caughey Pitsiula Kilabuk Theresa Koonoo Igah Sanguya Martha Jaw Jean Allen Michelle Doucette Jan Sargeant Helle Moeller Sherilee L. Harper |
| author_sort | Amy Caughey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Indigenous knowledge is central to understanding environment and health sciences in the Arctic, yet limited research in these fields has explored the human–animal–environment interface from the unique perspectives of Inuit women. Using a community-led, Inuit-centred research approach, we characterized the use and meaning of country food in the context of community well-being for Inuit women in Nunavut, Canada. In-depth conversational interviews and focus groups (n = 16) were held with Inuit women (n = 10) who are knowledge holders in the Qikiqtani region that hold decades of country food knowledge. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and constant comparative methods. Inuit women described country food in the context of (1) well-being, connection, and identity, (2) hunger, craving, and healing, (3) food security and nourishment, and (4) change and adaptation. Inuit women described a wide range of country food as central to physical and mental health, food security, identity, culture, healing and medicine. Adaptive strategies were discussed, such as eating more fish when caribou were scarce. This research highlights the critical role of country food for health and well-being for Inuit women and shares knowledge and perspective that is relevant to wildlife and environment researchers, public health practitioners, policy makers, and others interested in advancing health, well-being, and food sovereignty in Inuit communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T18:59:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c2531eddb73d4e35a0946e316e795586 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2368-7460 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:00:22Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arctic Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-c2531eddb73d4e35a0946e316e7955862024-03-20T12:47:33ZengCanadian Science PublishingArctic Science2368-74602024-03-0110.1139/as-2023-0038“We call it soul food”: Inuit women and the role of country food in health and well-being in NunavutAmy Caughey0Pitsiula Kilabuk1Theresa Koonoo2Igah Sanguya3Martha Jaw4Jean Allen5Michelle Doucette6Jan Sargeant7Helle Moeller8Sherilee L. Harper9Department of Health, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU, CanadaDepartment of Health, Government of Nunavut, Pangnirtung, NU, CanadaDepartment of Health, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU, CanadaCommunity Health Representative, Clyde River, NU, CanadaCommunity Health Representative, Kinngait, NU, CanadaNunavut Tunngavik Inc., Iqaluit, NU, CanadaDepartment of Health, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, NU, CanadaDepartment of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CanadaDepartment of Health Sciences, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, CanadaDepartment of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CanadaIndigenous knowledge is central to understanding environment and health sciences in the Arctic, yet limited research in these fields has explored the human–animal–environment interface from the unique perspectives of Inuit women. Using a community-led, Inuit-centred research approach, we characterized the use and meaning of country food in the context of community well-being for Inuit women in Nunavut, Canada. In-depth conversational interviews and focus groups (n = 16) were held with Inuit women (n = 10) who are knowledge holders in the Qikiqtani region that hold decades of country food knowledge. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and constant comparative methods. Inuit women described country food in the context of (1) well-being, connection, and identity, (2) hunger, craving, and healing, (3) food security and nourishment, and (4) change and adaptation. Inuit women described a wide range of country food as central to physical and mental health, food security, identity, culture, healing and medicine. Adaptive strategies were discussed, such as eating more fish when caribou were scarce. This research highlights the critical role of country food for health and well-being for Inuit women and shares knowledge and perspective that is relevant to wildlife and environment researchers, public health practitioners, policy makers, and others interested in advancing health, well-being, and food sovereignty in Inuit communities.https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2023-0038Inuitcountry foodnutritionindigenous health and well-beingfood sovereigntyone health |
| spellingShingle | Amy Caughey Pitsiula Kilabuk Theresa Koonoo Igah Sanguya Martha Jaw Jean Allen Michelle Doucette Jan Sargeant Helle Moeller Sherilee L. Harper “We call it soul food”: Inuit women and the role of country food in health and well-being in Nunavut Arctic Science Inuit country food nutrition indigenous health and well-being food sovereignty one health |
| title | “We call it soul food”: Inuit women and the role of country food in health and well-being in Nunavut |
| title_full | “We call it soul food”: Inuit women and the role of country food in health and well-being in Nunavut |
| title_fullStr | “We call it soul food”: Inuit women and the role of country food in health and well-being in Nunavut |
| title_full_unstemmed | “We call it soul food”: Inuit women and the role of country food in health and well-being in Nunavut |
| title_short | “We call it soul food”: Inuit women and the role of country food in health and well-being in Nunavut |
| title_sort | we call it soul food inuit women and the role of country food in health and well being in nunavut |
| topic | Inuit country food nutrition indigenous health and well-being food sovereignty one health |
| url | https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2023-0038 |
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