What we do

Indigenization of new approach methods for contaminated sites assessments in Indigenous communities: A community-based case study in the Kanien'kéha:ka community of Kanesatake

Prof. N Basu (PI)

This project will purposefully design, build, and test NAM-IKs (New Approach Methods founded on Indigenous Knowledge), including the development of new tools, methods, and knowledge related to contaminated sites assessments.

ⴰⵔⵔⴰⵎⴰⵜ Ărramăt: Strengthening Health and Wellbeing through Indigenous-Led Conservation and Sustainable Relationships with Biodiversity

Dr. Mariam Aboubakrine (co-principal investigator), Prof. M. Humphries (co-principal investigator), Prof. T. Delormier (food security pathway co-lead), H. Melgar-Quiñonez (co-investigator)

This recently funded NFRF Transformation project is an Indigenous and community-led project that includes an interdisciplinary team of scholars and knowledge holders working together with more than 100 Indigenous partners in Canada and around the globe

Understanding the impacts of climate change on Arctic nesting geese – a key towards Inuit food sovereignty in Arviat, Nunavut

Prof. M. Humphries (collaborator)

In Arviat, Nunavut, the Aqqiumavvik Society addresses issues around community food insecurity, primarily by encouraging harvesting and consumption of abundant and nutrient-rich locally harvested country foods. Guided by Aqqiumavvik, this project will investigate the potential for a coordinated community harvest of light geese to enhance food sovereignty in Arviat.

Peary caribou, muskoxen and their predators: the value of Indigenous Knowledge in informing species recovery

Prof. M Humphries (Collaborator)

This project brings together Inuit organizations, territorial, and federal governments, and academics in support of a species recovery plan for Peary caribou.

Food Environment Health and Nutrition for First Nation Nutrition and Youth (FEHNCY)

Brittany Jock (PI) & Treena Delormier (Advisor) for the Community Engagement Component and Integrated Knowledge Translation.

FEHNCY is a cross-Canada research study that will look at the nutrition, health and environment of First Nations children and youth aged 3-19 in communities through partnerships and community participation

Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Food Sovereignty and Nutrition

Prof. T Delormier, chairholder

This research program aims to identify structural constraints which challenge food security among Indigenous populations, and find solutions while considering their distinct food systems and food practices.

Tahatikonhsontóntie’ Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR)

Prof. T. Delormier, Network Principal Applicant & Brittany Jock (Collaborator)

The purpose of the Tahatikonhsontóntie’ NEIHR, funded by a CIHR Operating Grant Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health, is to establish a network of Indigenous communities, organisations serving Indigenous communities and research institutions to focus on enhancing the research of capacity of Indigenous communities.

Canadian Mountain Network of Centres of Excellence (CMN NCE)

Prof. M. Humphries (co-Research Director)

The Canadian Mountain Network is a national NCE that supports the resilience and health of Canada’s mountain peoples and places through research partnerships based on Indigenous and Western ways of knowing

Wildlife, Environmental Change and Local Indigenous Food Systems in Eeyou Istchee and Nunavik

Prof. M. Humphries (PI, chair holder), Prof. T. Delormier (co-PI)

The research initiative Wildlife, Environmental Change and Local Indigenous Food Systems (WECLIFS) and the aligned McGill Chair in Northern Research partners with Cree and Inuit regional organizations to study the use and importance of local food systems in the northern Quebec regions of Eeyou Istchee and Nunavik.

Canada Research Chair in Environmental Health Science

Prof. N. Basu, chairholder

Studying the potential human health and ecosystems risks associated with environmental contaminants. This research will support public health actions and policies that will improve environmental quality human health in Canada and internationally.

Coalition on Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems

Our vision is to stimulate and support action for SDGs-based food systems transformations towards the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda.

Our mission is to serve countries through systemic, country-driven, customized support in translating their commitments into effective actions to reach sustainable food systems by 2030, leveraging the wider UN system’s capacities. To achieve this, the Hub acts as a catalyst and connector inside the UN system in relation to food systems transformations’ contribution to the 2030 Agenda. To accelerate food systems transformations, the Hub takes on an essential coordination role to bring together relevant UN agencies, coalitions, international financial institutions, the private sector and other actors of support to galvanize food systems knowledge and expertise in support of countries’ action.

Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems

The Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems is a space of co-creation of knowledge on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems, blending scientific and Indigenous Peoples' knowledge systems. Both are considered at the same level of respect and consideration. The Global-Hub brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts from universities, research centers, Indigenous Peoples and UN agencies. It was officially endorsed by FAO Members at the 27th session of the FAO’s Technical Committee on Agriculture (COAG). FAO acts as Secretariat of the Global-Hub.

Its objective is to enhance the learning, preservation, and promotion of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems worldwide by (1)Bridging the knowledge gap on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems (2)Providing evidence-based information to ongoing policy discussions that affect Indigenous Peoples’ food systems.

Task force for Indigenous Food Systems

This Task Force was previously named Traditional, Indigenous and Cultural Food and Nutrition and was chaired by Professor Harriet Kuhnlein and Dr T Longvah. The Task Force recently published a special issue of the journal Maternal and Child Health entitled ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Food Systems: Gender Roles, Biodiversity and Food Security’. The issue consists of eleven chapters and an introduction from Professor Anna Lartey (IUNS Past President) and Professor Catherine Geissler (IUNS Secretary General). This issue is available free online through Wiley. In the current Council period Harriet Kuhnlein and T. Longvah will continue their involvement as a steering committee and there is an expanded membership including Dr Gina Kennedy as the new Chair of the Task Force. The Task Force has shifted the emphasis to documenting diverse local food systems and promoting elements within them for improving nutrition and health in various ways including livelihood development of knowledge holders. They plan to conduct a meta-analysis of the benefits of these food systems drawing on international publications, prepare policy briefs for national governments, UN agencies and professional societies to better enable governments to meet SDG commitments, and prepare symposia for regional conferences.