Maintaining food security in Elsipogtog First Nation / by Elisa A.M. Levi.

Abstract

Food and nutrition is recognized as a key health issue in Aboriginal communities throughout Canada. The purpose of this research is to understand how a Migmag First Nation on the Atlantic coast maintains food security. Elsipogtog has a population of 2,839 residents who reside on-reserve. This Migmag First Nation was historically self-sufficient and had a strong physical and cultural connection with food. The researcher used a phenomenological research method that included participant observation, unstructured interviews and a focus group to learn about food security in Elsipogtog. Data collection for this research took place from February 2006 until September 2006. This research attempts to capture the mechanisms that are currently used at the individual, family, and community levels in Elsipogtog First Nation to maintain food security. Specifically, the two main research questions are: 1. What are the individual, family and community strategies used to maintain food security? 2. What are the barriers to maintaining food security in Elsipogtog First Nation? The major findings of this research include the need to nurture to vitality the rich cultural relationship with food that the Migmag of this community have, the need to address environmental issues, the need to share knowledge and the need to support infrastructure to enhance community food security.

[Elsipogtog First Nation Reserve is located in Northern New Brunswick and is of the Migmag (Miigmaq, Mi'kmaq, Micmac) clan of First Nations (Indians, Aboriginal peoples). Thesis incl. information on : economy, employment, traditional foods, diet, food security or insecurity and health, income, water and food, government policies, etc. Research findings include info. on : food security on the individual, family, community levels (bartering, sharing, trading, cooking, farming, gardening, harvesting, eating foods "in season", survival, food banks, gambling, school lunch program, social assistance, nutritious foods available at on-reserve convenience stores, addictions, beliefs, breastfeeding, laws and policy, church and spirituality, education about traditional foods, etc.]