Feeding the Family During Times of Stress: Determinants and Experience of Food Insecurity in the Inuit Community of Igloolik, Nunavut

Ongoing climate change vulnerability research since 2002 in the Inuit community of Igloolik, Nunavut, has helped to identify and characterize the multiple determinants of vulnerability operating over different spatial and temporal scales. In early iterations of the research, compromised food security was identified as a major concern leading to the development of targeted food system studies. In this paper we report on this work, characterizing the nature of food insecurity and examining the conditions and processes which constrain access, availability, and quality of food. This is based on a participatory mixed methods approach beginning with quantitative food security surveys (n=50), semi-structured interviews (n=66), and focus groups (n=10) with community members, and key informant interviews with local and territorial health professionals and policy makers (n=19). The study indicates widespread experience of food insecurity among participants of all age and socio-economic groups: in 2006/07, 64% of community members were classed as experiencing food insecurity, 60% reported skipping meals regularly, 50% went hungry on a regular basis, and 40% reported losing weight due to inability to obtain sufficient food. Multiple determinants of food insecurity operating over different spatial-temporal scales are identified including food affordability and budgeting, food knowledge and preferences, food quality and availability, environmental stress, declining hunting activity, and the cost of harvesting. These determinants are operating in the context of changing livelihoods and climate change, which in many cases are exacerbating food insecurity. Females and low income households are at particular high risk of food insecurity, and are vulnerable to food system stresses including climate change.