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Harvest Programs in First Nations of Subarctic Canada: The Benefits Go Beyond Addressing Food Security and Environmental Sustainability Issues

Author

Listed:
  • Leonard J. S. Tsuji

    (Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada)

  • Stephen R. J. Tsuji

    (School of Environmental Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Aleksandra M. Zuk

    (Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
    School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Roger Davey

    (Fort Albany First Nation, Fort Albany, ON P0L 1H0, Canada)

  • Eric N. Liberda

    (School of Occupational and Public Health, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

Abstract

By breaking down barriers that impacted the ability of subarctic First Nations people to harvest waterfowl, the Sharing-the-Harvest program provided a safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food (i.e., geese) to James Bay Cree communities while also helping to protect the environment by harvesting overabundant geese. However, the impacts extend beyond those described above. Thus, the objectives of the present paper are twofold: to document the food sharing networks of the Sharing-the-Harvest program; and to examine the benefits associated with the harvest program beyond food security and environmental sustainability issues, as revealed through semi-directed interviews. In the regional initiative, harvested geese were shared with all James Bay communities; sharing is an important part of Cree culture. Where detailed information was collected, the goose-sharing network reached 76% of the homes in one of the communities. Likewise, in the local initiative, the goose-sharing network had a 76% coverage rate of the homes in the community. Although decreasing food insecurity was an important focus of the harvest-sharing programs, there were other benefits, from an Indigenous perspective, of being on the land, as identified by the Cree harvesters through semi-directed interviews (e.g., the transmission of Indigenous knowledge, the strengthening of social networks, and the feeling of wellness while out on-the-land). Thus, by participating in the on-the-land harvest programs, the Cree gained benefits beyond those solely related to strengthening food security and contributing in part to environmental sustainability. The Sharing-the-Harvest protocol has the potential to be adapted and employed by other Indigenous (or marginalized) groups worldwide, to help improve health and wellness, while, also protecting the environment from overabundant and/or invasive species.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonard J. S. Tsuji & Stephen R. J. Tsuji & Aleksandra M. Zuk & Roger Davey & Eric N. Liberda, 2020. "Harvest Programs in First Nations of Subarctic Canada: The Benefits Go Beyond Addressing Food Security and Environmental Sustainability Issues," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-24, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:8113-:d:439461
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brenda Parlee & Chris Furgal, 2012. "Well-being and environmental change in the arctic: a synthesis of selected research from Canada’s International Polar Year program," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 115(1), pages 13-34, November.
    2. van den Berg, Agnes E. & Maas, Jolanda & Verheij, Robert A. & Groenewegen, Peter P., 2010. "Green space as a buffer between stressful life events and health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(8), pages 1203-1210, April.
    3. Craik, Neil & Gardner, Holly & McCarthy, Daniel, 2017. "Indigenous – corporate private governance and legitimacy: Lessons learned from impact and benefit agreements," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 379-388.
    4. Campbell, David & Burgess, Christopher Paul & Garnett, Stephen Thomas & Wakerman, John, 2011. "Potential primary health care savings for chronic disease care associated with Australian Aboriginal involvement in land management," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 83-89, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Naomi Trott & Monica E. Mulrennan, 2024. "“Part of Who We Are…”: A Review of the Literature Addressing the Sociocultural Role of Traditional Foods in Food Security for Indigenous People in Northern Canada," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Fatima Ahmed & Eric N. Liberda & Andrew Solomon & Roger Davey & Bernard Sutherland & Leonard J. S. Tsuji, 2022. "Indigenous Land-Based Approaches to Well-Being: The Amisk (Beaver) Harvesting Program in Subarctic Ontario, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-39, June.
    3. Stephen R. J. Tsuji & Aleksandra M. Zuk & Andrew Solomon & Ruby Edwards-Wheesk & Fatima Ahmed & Leonard J. S. Tsuji, 2023. "What Is Wellbeing, and What Is Important for Wellbeing? Indigenous Voices from across Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-35, August.
    4. Fatima Ahmed & Eric N. Liberda & Andrew Solomon & Roger Davey & Bernard Sutherland & Leonard J. S. Tsuji, 2023. "Indigenous Land-Based Approaches to Well-Being: The Niska (Goose) Harvesting Program in Subarctic Ontario, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-29, February.
    5. Fatima Ahmed & Aleksandra M. Zuk & Leonard J. S. Tsuji, 2021. "The Impact of Land-Based Physical Activity Interventions on Self-Reported Health and Well-Being of Indigenous Adults: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-23, July.

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