from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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JAFSCD is the world’s only community-supported journal. JAFSCD content is open access (free) thanks to the generous support of our shareholders: the JAFSCD Shareholder Consortium, Library Shareholders, a growing number of Individual Shareholders, and our seven JAFSCD Partners: |
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| In From the Vault, we share earlier JAFSCD articles that are worth another look. Today's article from the vault is Contribution of wild foods to diet, food security, and cultural values amidst climate change, published in 2019 in the special issue on Indigenous Food Sovereignty in North America (vol. 9, supplement 2). This special issue was sponsored by |
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Wild foods persist as an integral component of Indigenous and traditional food systems. Indigenous and traditional food systems are place-based food systems comprising foods from the local environment that are obtained and prepared in ways that are culturally acceptable and reflect cultural heritage, including foods that are hunted, fished, and harvested. The colonization of Indigenous peoples has resulted in a dramatic shift away from wild food environments and toward the consumption of highly processed, store-bought foods that are high in refined sugars, saturated fats, and salts that are typical of the “Western diet.” Evidence suggests that this nutrition transition is having a profound and disproportionate impact on the health of Indigenous peoples. Improving the nutritional quality of foods available, including increasing the availability of wild foods, has been identified as a strategy to mitigate the nutrition transition and improve diet and health outcomes. In the article "Contribution of wild foods to diet, food security, and cultural values amidst climate change," the authors conducted research on the Flathead Indian Reservation (FIR), the remaining homeland of the Confederated Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d’Oreille Tribes. The subsistence patterns of these tribes remain a central component of tribal cultural identity. The CSKT Tribal government has worked to preserve their food traditions by establishing cultural committees and a natural resources department. In addition, the CSKT have developed a Climate Strategic Plan “to develop potential programmatic and/or regulatory actions and changes ... appropriate to addressing the effects of climate change.”
KEY FINDINGS Between a quarter and one-third of the participants engaged in at least one wild food procurement activity (hunting, fishing, and/or harvesting wild plant foods). Just over one-quarter (26.2%) of participants stated that wild foods are shared within the community among friends, family, and at community gatherings. - Participants with greater Wild Food Dietary Diversity scores were more food secure than those with lower Wild Food Dietary Diversity scores.
- While wild foods were not consumed by all participants, wild foods were valued by 90% of participants.
- Wild foods were further perceived to be of higher quality for not being raised or processed commercially.
- The loss of wild food was predominately attributed to overpopulation leading to pollution, land-use change, decrease in wildlife habitat, and overharvesting.
The results point to the vulnerability of wild food environments in the face of climate change and other challenges of the Anthropocene, including overharvesting and agricultural encroachment.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH - Findings indicate that wild foods can contribute to strengthening food security and should be promoted through research, education, interventions, and policy changes.
- The Wild Food Dietary Diversity reported by participants was not representative of the diversity of wild foods available on the FIR, which suggests a loss of knowledge about using wild foods. This supports previous research and suggests that documenting and sharing wild food identification, uses, and preparation techniques are needed to reduce this loss of knowledge on the FIR.
SHARE ON YOUR SOCIALS Native Americans are twice as likely to experience food insecurity than the average U.S. citizen. A JAFSCD article demonstrates the importance of wild, place-based food systems for improving food security on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Northwestern Montana. #Indigenousfoods #Nativefoodsystems #CSKT @msufoodandhealthlab Read for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2019.09B.011 |
Image above: Wild-harvested huckleberries in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Photo by Elizabeth Dean.
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| In this popular and free webinar series from our sister program NAFSN, panelists share connections and insights to help attendees identify possibilities for their careers. The spring 2024 series highlights job creators across the food systems profession. Join us for the next Finding Your Future in Food Systems webinar with Roberta Cosentino, The Best Route; Justin Barclay, Rodale Institute; and Zachary Korosh, Ohio State U. Wed., February 21, 6:00-7:00 pm ET REGISTER for this free event! |
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