Using public policy to support public health providers and Indigenous community leaders as change champions in initiating action on climate-related food insecurity and health in Canada’s North.

Equitable and reliable access to locally grown, nutritious, and culturally relevant foods is a necessary step toward achieving food sovereignty in Indigenous communities living in Canada’s North. In our current context of sky rocketing food prices and changing weather patterns, climate-related food insecurity and growing inequities in access to healthy food is a significant concern. In partnership with Indigenous organizations, researchers, and communities, this project will identify Indigenous and public health change champions who are working toward transformative change to improve access to culturally relevant and affordable food and reduce the impact of climate-associated risks to food security.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Catalyst Grant.

Poject Co-Lead: Sarah Funnell sarah.funnell@queensu.ca

Project Co-Lead: Krystal Kehoe MacLeod kmacleod@bruyere.org

Research Coordinator: Olivia Ballantyne oballantyne@bruyere.org

2024 Research Volunteer: Laura Jamieson 23206268@studentmail.ul.ie

Kehoe MacLeod K, Ballantyne O, Ayaruak-Thomson S; Wolki C; Jung A; Funnell S. (December 10-12, 2024). Using public policy to support Indigenous community leaders as change champions in initiating action on climate-related food insecurity and health in the North. ArcticNet. Ottawa, Canada. Poster presentation.

Ballantyne O, Funnell S, Ayaruak-Thomson S, Wolki C, Meekis A, Hammond E, Muray M, Dabone C, Fitzgerald M, Giroux I, Horn O, Jull J, Kenny T, Kristjansson E, Neufeld H, Patel K, Robidoux M, Skinner K, Wang K, Wesche S, Kehoe MacLeod K. (November 28, 2024). Using public policy to support Indigenous food sovereignty change champions in the North. Bruyère Health Annual Research Day. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Poster presentation.

Kehoe MacLeod K, Muray M, Wesche S, Kenny T, Neufeld H, Skinner K, Horseley T, Robidoux M, Dabone C, Kristjansson E, Giroux I, Jull J, Fitzgerald M, Horn O, Konikoff L, Patel K, Wang K, Tanuseputro P, Funnell S. (Nov 30, 2023). Exploring the Role of “Change Champions” in Creating Transformative Change in Climate-related Food Insecurity in Indigenous Northern Communities. Bruyère Research Day 2023. Ottawa, Ontario. Poster presentation.

Kehoe MacLeod K, Muray M, Wesche S, Kenny T, Neufeld H, Skinner K, Horseley T, Robidoux M, Dabone C, Kristjansson E, Giroux I, Jull J, Fitzgerald M, Horn O, Konikoff L, Patel K, Wang K, Tanuseputro P, Funnell S. (Oct 18-20, 2023). Exploring the Role of “Change Champions” in Creating Transformative Change in Climate-related Food Insecurity in Indigenous Northern Communities. What Works Global Summit 2023. Ottawa, Ontario. Oral presentation.

Kehoe MacLeod K, Konikoff L, Muray M, Wesche S, Kenny T, Neufeld H, Skinner K, Horseley T, Robidoux M, Dabone C, Kristjansson E, Giroux I, Jull J, Fitzgerald M, Horn O, Patel K, Wang K, Tanuseputro P, Funnell S. (Oct 9-11, 2023). The Role of “Change Champions” in Creating Change in Climate-related Food Insecurity in Northern Communities. Evidence and Implementation Summit 2023​. Melbourne, Australia. Oral presentation.

Kehoe MacLeod K, Muray M, Wesche S, Kenny T, Neufeld H, Skinner K, Horseley T, Robidoux M, Dabone C, Kristjansson E, Giroux I, Jull J, Fitzgerald M, Horn O, Konikoff L, Patel K, Wang K, Tanuseputro P, Funnell S. (June 1-2, 2023). Exploring the Role of “Change Champions” in Creating Transformative Change in Climate-related Food Insecurity in Indigenous Northern Communities. Northern Health Research Conference. Thunder Bay, Ontario. Poster presentation.

Coming Soon.