Northern & Remote Food -

The Northern Food Network will be hosting bi-monthly webinars focused around some core themes of Northern food security.

Next Webinar of the Series: Tuesday April 25th 10-11:30 (PST) - with Food First Newfoundland and Labrador and Food Matters Manitoba

A documentary by APTN Investigates reporter Kathleen Martens. The film is a stark exposé on the ongoing reality of food insecurity in the north, and the inability of Nutrition North Canada to deliver on promises of affordable, nutritious food via retailer subsidies in communities like Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.  

Scientists recently concluded the First Nations food, nutrition and environment study (FNFNES). The study is a collaboration between the University of Ottawa, the Université de Montréal and the Assembly of First Nations. The FNFNES is the first national study of its kind. The newly released 2011-2012 results for Ontario detail the dietary patterns, lifestyle and general health status of 18 randomly selected First Nations communities in the province.

Nunavut community prices are determined by calculating the average cost based on size in all stores for each community. Items are not separated by brand names. The survey was prepared by the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics and Statistics Canada. Not all items from from the Canada Food Price Basket are included due to a lack of comparable data in Nunavut.

In March and April 2013, a pilot food price survey was conducted across 11 Nunavut communities (10 of which returned usable data). In a comparison of 28 combined food items, Iqaluit has the lowest overall food cost in the territory at $216.21. Gjoa Haven is the highest of the communities surveyed at $255.58 - 18% higher than Iqaluit.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada hosted a webinar May 23, 2014, which detailed strategies for working with the media as a non-profit organization. Topics covered include: overview of different types of media and reach; which is most desirable for your cause; how to craft stories and pitch/reach the media; working with a small budget; and searching for results/evaluation.

From the local to the international scale, 2012-2013 brought much attention to the critical issue of food insecurity in Nunavut.

Through the Nunavut Food Security Strategy, the Nunavut Food Security Coalition will seek to address many of the key determinants of food security through a wide range of initiatives, programs, and policies.

The Coalition has identified six key themes around which the Nunavut Food Security Strategy is structured: Country Food, Store-Bought Food, Local Food Production, Life Skills, Programs and Community Initiative, as well as Policy and Legislation.

Food Security has been raised as a priority issue to Qaujigiartiit Arctic Health Research Network Nunavut (AHRN) by board members and by Nunavut community members. Policy- and decision-makers are essential to determining focus and effecting change on this important topic.