Alaskan Inuit Food Security Conceptual Framework: How to Assess

the Arctic From an Inuit perspective

Presented by: Carolina Behe2015 Kawerak Regional/Rural Providers’ Conference

June 2, 2015

Thank You To Our FundersAlaska Conservation Foundation

Bering Air ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.

World Wildlife FundNorth Slope Borough, Maniilaq Association

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Northwest Arctic Borough

NANA Regional Corporation Norton Sound Economic Development

Calista Corporation Dolin Gold LLC.

Hansen’s Trading Company (Safeway) Alaska Commercial Company

• Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)• Why An Assessment Tool is Needed• Project Objectives• Methodology• Alaskan Inuit Food Security Definition• Over-Arching Drivers of Food Insecurity and

Security• Alaskan Inuit Food Security Conceptual

Framework• Sharing the Framework

Photo: Jackie Clevland

ICC’s beginning

What We Work On• Food security• Language • Human and indigenous

peoples’ rights• Environment• Climate Change• Contaminants• Sustainability• Biodiversity• Culture and Language• Resource Development• Arctic Sovereignty• Health

Photo: Brandon Ahmasuk

Photo: Mary Sage

Photo: Majia Lukin

ICC’s International Engagements• Arctic Council• Task Force on Oil Spill

Response• Inuit Health• Commission on Human Rights• Mercury Expert Group• POPS Expert Group• RAMSAR• WIPO• UNFCC• Convention on Biological

Diversity• International Whaling

Commission• UNEP (incl. INC)• CITIES

Photo: Mary Sage

Photo: Jacki Clevland

Photo: Maija Lukin

Photo: Maija Lukin

Jackie Cleveland

1. Provide an understanding of arctic food in/security, from an Alaskan Inuit perspective

2. Identification Of Drivers Of Food In/Security

1. Create A food security conceptual framework to guide how to assess food in/security across both cultural and environmental systems.

Jackie Cleveland

Methodology

• Advisory Committee

• Community Involvement• Meeting With Inuit Traditional Knowledge Holders

• Regional Workshops/ Evaluation And Validation

• Review

Chukchi SeaChukchi SeaBeaufort SeaBeaufort Sea

Northwest ArcticNorthwest Arctic

Yukon-KuskokwimYukon-Kuskokwim

Bering StraitsBering Straits

North Slope ArcticNorth Slope Arctic

Mekoryuk

Gambell

Kaktovik

Bering SeaBering Sea

Bristol BayBristol Bay

Kivalina

Point lay

Lower KalskagPilot Station

Emmonak

AtmautluakToksook Bay

Wales

KobukSelawik

Stebbins

Alaska Inuit Food Security is the natural right

of all Inuit to be part of the ecosystem, to

access food, to care-take, protect, and respect

all of life, land, water, and air.

Photo: Jacki Clevland

Allowing for all Inuit to obtain, process, store and

consume sufficient amounts of healthy and nutritious

preferred food, foods that are physically and

spiritually craved, and needed, from the land, air, and

water and which provide for their families and future

generations through the practice of Inuit customs and

spirituality, languages, knowledge, policies,

management practices and self-governance. Photo: Jacki Clevland

It includes the responsibility and ability to pass on

knowledge to younger generations the taste rooted in

a location (time and space – seasonality), how to

safely obtain and prepare traditional foods for use

medicines, clothing, housing, nutrients, and overall

how to be within ones’ environment, understanding

that food is a life line and a connection between the

past and today’s self and cultural identity. Photo: Jacki Clevland

Inuit food security is characterized by environmental

health and is made up of six interconnecting

dimensions, Inuit culture, Availability, Accessibility,

Health and Wellness, Stability, and Decision-making

power and management. This definition holds the

understanding that without food sovereignty, food

security will not exists.

Photo: Jacki Cleveland

• Value of food• Spirituality• Language and

terminology• Respect• Sharing systems• Knowledge of how to

obtain, process, store & consume traditional foods

• Knowledge of Inuit calendars

• Control over ones own fate

• User Conflict• Burden of conservation• Mental health• Rapid speed of change• Ability to adapt• Ability to live off of

resources of the land, water and air

• Economics• Change in ice

Photo: Jaimie Ablowaluk

Food Security

AvailabilityFood

Security

Stability

Decision Making Power & Management

Health & Wellness

Accessibility

Inuit Culture

Photo: Jacki ClevelandPhoto: Jacki Cleveland

Photo: Carolina Behe

Photo: Carolina Behe

Photo: Carolina Behe

Photo: Carolina Behe

Baseline

1. Listing of all processes involved in obtaining, processing, and storage of food processes and changes; this list should include all requirements and tools required, such as housing structures, freezers, temperatures, wood, seal oil, etc.

1. Is there effective consultation for planning, implementation and evaluation

Photo: Jacki Cleveland

Photo: Kelly Eningowuk

Points Stressed

• Decision making power

• Food Sovereignty

• An accumulation of over-arching drivers

• An increase in competition will increase user conflict

• Inuit Traditional Knowledge

Recommendations

• Virtual Clearinghouse

• Regional protocols

• Move away from research that translates Inuit TK into science

• Strengthen co-management structures

• Formation of a food security council or game council

Photo: Kelly Eningowuk

Finished Product

Quyanaq, Quyana, Taikuu

www.iccalaska.org

Noah F. NaylorNoah F. Naylor

Decision Making Power and Management –Ability to manage lands, waters and resources (FS)Power dynamics – self regulation (FS)Perceived and reality of control over fate (FS)Strength of co-management structures (FS & FI)Loss of resource benefits and income (FI)Federal and state regulations/jurisdiction (FS & FI)User Conflict (FI)Burden of conservation (FI)Increase in competition (FI)Taxation without representation & representation with low understanding of Inuit culture and Inuit ecological regions (FI)Respect for and equality of knowledge systems (TK and science) (FS)Preparedness for large shocks, such as preparedness for oil and emergency response (FS)Meaningful, equitable involvement in research (FS)Racism (FI)

Availability -Variety - number of different animals and plants in the area (may also be referred to as biodiversity (FS)Knowledge of how to obtain, processes, store and consume traditional foods (FS)Knowledge of seasonality – Inuit calendars (FS)Being able to eat what has been gathered from last season (FS)

Accessibility –Access to traditional territories (FS & FI)Ability to live off of the resources of the land, water and air (FS & FI)Economics (Inuit economy, cash [market] economy, government subsidies (FS & FI)Water sources (i.e. multi-year ice, river ice, etc.) (FS & FI)Access to tools and possessing the ability to access healthy animals, plants, fish, ice, water, etc. (FS & FI)

Inuit Culture -Value of Food (FS)Spirituality (FS)Language and Terminology (FS)Education and Transfer of Knowledge (FS)Sharing Systems (FS)Respect (FS)Celebration, Games, and Feast (FS)Social Interaction (FS)Dance, Art, and Music (FS)Self- and Cultural Identity (FS)Clothing, Tools (FS)Maintaining Inuit Leadership and Knowledge Holders (FS)How to be Within the Environment (Cosmology) (FS)Time Constraints (FI)Act of gathering, processing, storing and consuming traditional foods (FS)Physical Safety (e.g. navigation skills) (FS)Knowledge of food systems of yesterday and today (FS)Relationship with animals (socio-ecological system) (FS)

Health and Wellness –Environmental integrity and productivity to withstand pollution (noise and light pollution, garbage, contaminants, waste water, etc.), erosion, habitat destruction, etc. (FS)Increased vulnerability throughout the food chain (FI)Degradation of healthy food systems and overall health (e.g. increases in chronic disease such as cancer) (FI)Nutrition – ability to access and absorb (FS)Accessibility to traditional medicines and healers (FS)Accessibility to western medicine and health care professionals (FS)Land fill system (FS & FI)Sanitation system (FS & FI)Mental Health (FS & FI)Housing structures (FS & FI)Mixed diet of traditional and non-traditional foods (FI and FS)

Health and Wellness –Environmental integrity and productivity to withstand pollution (noise and light pollution, garbage, contaminants, waste water, etc.), erosion, habitat destruction, etc.  (FS)Increased vulnerability throughout the food chain (FI)Degradation of healthy food systems and overall health (e.g. increases in chronic disease such as cancer) (FI)Nutrition – ability to access and absorb (FS)Accessibility to traditional medicines and healers (FS)Accessibility to western medicine and health care professionals (FS)Land fill system (FS & FI)Sanitation system (FS & FI)Mental Health (FS & FI)Housing structures (FS & FI)Mixed diet of traditional and non‐traditional foods (FI and FS)

Stability –Adapt to changes (FS)Rapid speed of change (FI)Inuit mental security - in reference to the legal protections for the environment from pollutants, etc. and for the culture against forced assimilation. (FS)Integrity of Interaction Systems – Marine, Terrestrial, Culture, and and Social-ecological (FS & FI)Hope (FS)