Ethnobiology, ethnic cuisines, and provision of health care among Ukrainian and Sikh migrants in Bradford, UK. A comparative study of plant-based food and drink used for maintaining health, tradition and cultural identity amongst Sikh and Ukrainian migrant communities in Bradford.

摘要

Using ethnobotanical, anthropological and social science theory and methods thisudwork illustrates significance of studying traditional foods and their medicinal qualitiesudfor maintaining health. Set in the background of the communities¿ practises andudrituals specific plant-based items, used by Sikh and Ukrainian migrant communities,udare a central focus to understanding the significance of practises and relatedudknowledge for maintaining health and the broader concept of ¿well-being¿. Literatureudreview, participant observation and in-depth interviewing techniques were used toudidentify 126 species of plants mentioned. These illustrate what was a primarilyudfemale domain of knowledge now becoming superficial and spread over domains ofudboth men and women. This study notes convenience in terms of time and transport,udchanges in markets in the UK, importation of goods and the use of machinery andudtechniques such as freezing, and intervention by healthcare professionals have alludaffected the way traditional foods and remedies are perceived and practised. Thereudare key foods which will remain important for generations to come whilst the domainsudare changing. Specific community structures support maintenance of food practises,udincluding langar within the Sikh community and the regular OAP Ukrainianudlunchtime club and numerous food events where foods with particular religious andudcultural significance are made by at least two generations. These events involveudtransmission of knowledge related to foods and their health qualities, includingudimages of strength as a ¿people¿. By questioning the significance of emic perspectivesudhealthcare professionals and policymakers could learn much from practises developedudover centuries or millennia.