FoodSecurityStatusofIndigenousPeoplesin CanadaAccordingtothe4PillarsofFoodSecurity: AScopingReview

Abstract

Food insecurity is a significant public health problem for Indigenous peoples in Canada. A comprehensive literature review is needed to organize theevidenceaccordingtothe4pillarsoffoodsecurity(i.e.,availability,access,utilization,andstability)andidentifygapsinthepublishedliterature on this topic. Therefore, in this scoping review we aimed to summarize the published research discussing any of the 4 pillars of food security amongIndigenouspeoplesinCanada.Weconductedaliteraturesearchofthefollowingdatabases:OvidMedline,EMBASE,WebofScience(Web ofKnowledge),andCINAHL,aswellastheIndigenousStudiesPortal(uptoJune19,2021).Population-basedstudiesofanydesignwereincluded, exceptforreview-stylearticles.ArticlespublishedinlanguagesotherthanEnglishwerealsoexcluded.Ofthe4687studiesidentifiedbythedatabase searches, 91 met our inclusion criteria. Evidence from these studies indicates that all dimensions of food security among Indigenous peoples in Canada have been impacted. Lack of availability of both traditional and market foods is highlighted among Inuit and First Nation communities. Economic disadvantages, high food prices, and lack of access to transportation are major factors affecting the accessibility pillar of food security. Major factors affecting the utilization pillar of food security are the loss of traditional knowledge and skills, lack of knowledge on market foods, low quality of market foods, and food safety issues. Climate change has affected all 4 pillars of food security among Indigenous peoples. These findingssuggestthatresolvingfoodinsecurityissuesamongIndigenouspeoplesinCanada,especiallythoselivinginremotecommunities,requires aculturallyspecificintegratedapproachtargetingfoodavailability,foodcost,foodknowledge,foodsafety,andfoodquality