Indigenous Science and Food Sovereignty

Summary

Both Indigenous and western science can be applied to address a range of important systemic challenges, from food security to health risks to climate change. However, efforts to coalesce them to develop solutions have not been fully realized, leading to inconsistent consideration of Indigenous science in decision-making. The CCA will assess how Indigenous science can be supported to advance policy and governance in a way that achieves reciprocal benefits for all people in Canada.

The report will examine approaches to including Indigenous science and leadership in decision-making to support the development of policies that are strengthened by the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous knowledges, and lead to mutual economic, environmental, and social benefits and the advancement of Indigenous priorities. Food sovereignty will used as a case study to develop a framework that can be applied to other issues.

The question

How can policy and governance support Indigenous science in a way that advances Indigenous priorities and achieves reciprocal benefits for Canada’s social, environmental, and economic goals?

The sponsor

Indigenous Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (I-STEM) Cluster hosted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

Supporting departments and agencies: Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, Ingenium, Knowledge Circle for Indigenous Inclusion, National Research Council Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Public Health Agency of Canada.

This project was supported by the Government of Canada, through the Strategic Science Fund.