Yukon Government's Agricultural Branch

The Agriculture Branch within the Government of Yukon is concerned with increasing the production in the Yukon and profitability and sustainability and can refer growers to resources and information about Yukon food systems; there are a number of reports and resources online as well.

Food System Theme:

• Production and Harvesting

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

• Networking/Information Sharing

• Funding

Reach:

• Yukon-Wide

Host | Contact:

• Yukon Government (Energy, Mines and Resources - Agriculture Branch) | brad.barton@gov.yk.ca | 867-334-3126

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Vuntut Gwitchin Climate Change and Health Research in Northern Yukon

This three-phase project was initiated by the Vuntut Gwitchin citizens in Old Crow, who invited the Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research to work with them in response to their concerns about changes to their traditional harvesting and hunting areas, and changes in the distribution and abundance of several traditional food species.  PHASE I: What do our changing homelands mean for our health?  PHASE II: Knowledge into Action  PHASE III: Community Action on Climate Change and Food Security Adaptation in Old Crow.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

• Research

Reach:

• Community-Level (Old Crow)

Host | Contact:

• Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation and Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research | info@aicbr.ca

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Toward Food Security in Canada’s North

Canada’s Public Policy Forum is advancing the dialogue on one of the most important policy issues affecting people living in Northern Canada—food insecurity. The range of approaches –both within Canada’s Territories and Provinces, as well as in other northern nations with similar food insecurity issues – illustrate that there is no single best approach to solving food insecurity. Addressing the challenges within Canada will require a variety of initiatives, including support for country food, education programs, poverty alleviation measures and economic-development strategies.

Over the past year, Canada’s Public Policy Forum organized a series of round table discussions in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Ontario to identify current successes and remaining gaps in overcoming food insecurity in northern Canada, with a particular focus on the challenges confronting Aboriginal peoples. Bringing together leaders from communities, NGOs, Aboriginal organizations, and territorial, provincial and federal governments leaders, these multi-sector discussions have culminated in a final report that highlights positive developments, common challenges, and key recommendations shared by round table participants.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

• Research

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Pan-Northern

Host | Contact:

• The Public Policy Forum | info@ppforum.ca | 613-238-7858

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Summary of Regulatory Regime Governing the Sale of Meats, Eggs, Produce and Manufactured Foods in Yukon

This document reviews the following food products produced and sold in Yukon: Meat, Eggs, Produce (fruit and vegetables), Manufactured Food Products as well as provides information about labeling. 

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Yukon-Wide

Host | Contact:

• Yukon Government (Energy, Mines and Resources - Agriculture Branch)

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Selling Local Food to Government

The Government of Yukon is committed to increasing its purchase and use of local food as described in the Local Food Strategy for Yukon. In order to facilitate sales between Yukon producers and the Government of Yukon purchasers, important information and key contacts have been compiled on their website.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Yukon-Wide

Host | Contact:

• Yukon Agricultural Association

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Recommendations on Northern Sustainable Food Systems

In February 2019, the National Indigenous Economic Development Board released a report outlining recommendations that address gaps in creating sustainable food systems in the North. These recommendations were gleaned from both internal and external research, including a Roundtable event held in Whitehorse (June 2018) to discuss Northern Sustainable food systems with Northerners.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy, Networks

Resource Theme:

• Research

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Pan-Northern

Host:

• National Indigenous Economic Development Board

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Our Food Security Today and Tomorrow in Carcross/Tagish First Nation

This work is part of a wider multi-year, community-based project to design and plan for a Yukon food system. Preliminary research was conducted in partnership with Carcross/Tagish First Nation to find out: What the CTFN food system looks like currently? Where do people get their food and what are the barriers they face in doing so? What concerns do CTFN citizens have about the future of their food system? What does CTFN want to see in their food secure future and what needs to happen to get there? 

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme(s):

• Research

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Community-Level (Carcross)

Host | Contact:

• Senior Manager, Tami Grantham | Carcross/Tagish First Nation (Heritage, Lands & Natural Resources) | tami.grantham@ctfn.ca

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Nourishing Our Future: An Adaptive Food Security Strategy to Ensure the Cultural and Physical Well-being of the Kluane First Nation Against the Impacts of Climate Change in the Yukon

This project employed both community-based research and Indigenous approaches to develop a food security strategy that was community-driven, action-oriented and based on community-identified questions and priorities.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme(s):

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Community-Level (Burwash Landing)

Host | Contact:

• Kluane First Nation and Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research | info@aicbr.ca

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Northern Input into a National Food Policy

AICBR and YAPC hosted and participated in multiple events in Whitehorse aimed at seeking input from Yukoners about the Canadian government's developing national food policy (A Food Policy for Canada). While the engagement period on the policy is complete, both organizations continue to be active in advocating for more northern-led solutions to food security and support for building more resilient northern food systems. 

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme(s):

• Research

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Yukon-Wide

Host | Contact:

• Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition and Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research | yukonantipovertycoalition@gmail.com

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Local Food & Urban Agriculture Strategy

The City has been reviewing the input received during public engagement held throughout 2017 (interviews, surveys, and focus group sessions), to develop a draft of the City's Local Food & Urban Agriculture Strategy (LFUAS). The draft strategy is expected to be released for public review in 2018.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Community-Level (Whitehorse)

Host | Contact:

• Planner, Erica Beasley | City of Whitehorse | erica.beasley@whitehorse.ca | 867-668-8600

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Local Food Strategy for Yukon

Local Food Strategy for Yukon follows two years of research and consultation with public, industry and First Nations stakeholders. The local food strategy sows the seeds for long-term development of the agriculture sector, enhanced food security and increased access to local food for Yukoners.While some of the initiatives are already underway, several different Yukon government departments will be working with industry, community groups and individuals over the next 5 years to implement the wide range of initiatives that are proposed.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Yukon-Wide

Host | Contact:

• Yukon Government (Energy, Mines and Resources - Agriculture Branch) | agriculture@gov.yk.ca | 867-667-5838

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Keeping Our Traditions for the Mental Wellbeing of Selkirk First Nations Youth: What Do We Do at the Fish Camp When There Are No Fish?

Many northern communities consider traditional practices as a pathway to mental health and wellness for First Nation youth. Built on previous Selkirk First Nation projects and funded by Health Canada, the focus was to find ways of keeping traditional Tutchone knowledge, practices and culture while adapting to the impacts of climate change. The Selkirk First Nation Climate Change Adaptation Plan was developed. A Fish Camp guide was created as a form of cultural preservation and to facilitate conversations around fish camp activities in relation to connecting the youth to the land as well as to enable sharing of traditional knowledge and skills traditionally taught at the fish camp.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

• Research

Reach:

• Community-Level (Pelly Crossing)

Host | Contact:

• Selkirk First Nation and Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research | info@aicbr.ca

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Household Food Insecurity in Canada, 2014

PROOF publishes research on household food insecurity in Canada. Recent publications include an examination of the impact of Newfoundland and Labrador’s poverty reduction strategy, the link between food insecurity and health care costs, and the food insecurity in metropolitan areas. All reports/articles are available from PROOF’s website.

Food System Theme:

• Consumption

Resource Theme(s):

• Research

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• National

Host | Contact:

• PROOF | proof@utoronto.ca

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Grazing Program

To meet the grazing needs of Yukon livestock owners, the Government of Yukon grants grazing rights on designated areas of public land to eligible applicants. Grazing rights are given to the applicant in the form of a grazing agreement.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

• Networking/Information Sharing

Reach:

• Yukon-Wide

Host | Contact:

• Yukon Government (Energy, Mines and Resources - Agriculture Branch)

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Good Medicine: Understanding and Adapting to the Effects of Climate Change on the Use of Traditional Medicine

Using the Northern Tutchone system of community engagement, stories about Traditional Medicines and past periods of climatic change were recorded. This began a body of research to help the community understand the importance of Traditional Medicine today. An action plan for sustaining Traditional Medicine practices through climate change was developed. Elders have sanctioned this plan, which includes the documentation of traditional medicine knowledge so that actions can be taken to address areas at risk and to identify sensitive gathering areas considered at risk. Posters were made of the Uncle's Retreat and Auntie's Retreat to help communicate accomplishments.

Food System Theme:

• Production/Harvesting

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

• Research

Reach:

• Community-Level (Carmacks)

Host | Contact:

• Council (Elder), Shirley Bellmore | Little Salmon Carmacks | shirley.bellmore@lscfn.ca

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Food Innovation in Canada’s North: The Case for a Social Enterprise Cluster

Action Canada Task Force conducted a preliminary study of the feasibility of an Arctic Food Innovation Cluster in Canada. The intent of such a cluster is to advance increased access to affordable, culturally informed, healthy food across northern regions. The cluster’s secondary objective is to foster further innovations within the North’s commercial food production industry via new food production methods (e.g., full utilization of harvested fish), value chains, and/or governance models. This would, in turn, boost local economic development opportunities within these northern communities.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Networking and Policy

Resource Theme:

• Research

• Policy/Strategy

Reach:

• Pan-Northern

Host | Contact:

• Action Canada

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Food Banks Canada: Hunger Count 2018

The HungerCount presents results from an annual study of more than 4,000 food banks and other food programs in every province and territory. The research contains a number of policy recommendations that relate to specific priority issues, including northern food insecurity.

Food System Theme:

• Consumption

Resource Theme:

• Research

• Policy

Reach:

• National

Host | Contact:

• Food Banks Canada

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Cultivating Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Food Systems in the North: A Review and Recommendations

In 2018, Indigenous and Northern Affairs (now Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada), on behalf of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board, posted a call for a study on the current state of Northern Food Systems. The purpose of the study was to review existing literature on Northern Food Systems and to develop a series of recommendations for how the federal government could better support the development of sustainable and resilient food systems in the North. Responding to the call, Food Secure Canada put together a team of academic and community partners to undertake the research and produce a final report.

Following the completion of the project, the authors produced a Summary Report which synthesizes the key findings and recommendations from the study: Cultivating Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Food Systems in the North: A Review and Recommendations. The Summary Report provides an overview of the key challenges and opportunities facing Northern food systems, and outlines strategies to better position federal policies and programs to support the cultivation of more robust and sustainable food systems in the North.  

The report argues that any attempts to strengthen Northern food systems and address food insecurity must be rooted in community, enabled by Indigenous knowledge, and paired with Northern-focused economic development strategies. Every region has its own unique context and there is no “one size fits all” approach. 

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme:

• Policy/Strategy

• Research

Reach:

• Pan-Northern

Host | Contact:

• Amanda Wilson (awilson@ustpaul.ca) and Charles Levkoe (clevkoe@lakeheadu.ca)

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research

The Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research (AICBR) works on a variety of different initiatives related to food security, food systems and food sovereignty doing research, advocacy and education. For example, AICBR works with communities to develop their own community food security strategies, taking a whole-of-community approach, focusing on youth to build knowledge and develop research and leadership skills; informs policy from a community-based perspective; develops educational materials and tools; facilitates and organizes workshops focusing on food systems, food sovereignty and food security , and contributes to a number of online webinars (in particular, AICBR co-hosts the Northern Food Network Webinar series) and network meetings (Food Network Yukon, Arctic Food Security and Nutrition Network, among others) which help to raise up northern voices on northern issues at federal and international levels.

Food System Theme:

• Food System Coordination, Policy and Networks

Resource Theme(s):

• Research

• Policy/Strategy

• Networking/Information Sharing

Reach:

• Pan-Northern

Host | Contact:

• Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research | info@aicbr.ca

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.

AgPal - Online Program and Service Finder Tool for Agriculture

A web-based discovery tool to help producers and others in the agriculture and agri-business sector. Search the tool by region for services and programs related to growing, subsidizing the hiring of farmhands, getting veterinary help, applying for grazing land, and more!

FOOD SYSTEM THEME:

• Production and Harvesting

• Food Skills, Knowledge and Culture

RESOURCE THEME:

• Networking/Information Sharing

• Training

• Research

• Policy/Strategy

• Funding

REACH:

• National

HOST | CONTACT:

• agpal-agriguichet@canada.ca

Is something not quite right here or do you have a planning resource that you would like added to the list? Leave us a comment or email us at info@aicbr.ca.