The social and cultural experiences of food security in the Takla Lake First Nation: Informing public health.

摘要

Food security is a concept that refers to the ability of people to have access to food that is nutritionally adequate, safe, culturally appropriate and socially acceptable. Many First Nations communities are faced with issues of food security due to isolation, low socioeconomic status, threats to traditional food sources and inflated costs of store-bought food. To date, however, little research attention has been given to the actual lived experiences and perceptions of food (in)security from members of First Nations themselves. This research sought to hear from members of the Takla Lake First Nation in northern British Columbia about what they feel affects their ability to be food secure.;The research involved participant observation and content analysis of key informant interviews with 15 elders from the Takla Lake First Nation. Findings suggest that food security concerns are seen to be intensifying amongst younger generations in the community and are attributed overwhelmingly and directly to the cumulative legacies of multiple colonial processes (i.e., the reserve system, residential schools, and the social and environmental upheavals associated with ever expanding commercial resource extraction on traditional lands). It is argued that both the research process and findings should be used to better inform public health initiatives aimed at improving the dietary practices of First Nations populations.