Community Freezers Supporting Food Security: Perspectives from Residents of Nain, Nunatsiavut

Abstract

Changing environments are challenging access to wild foods; resources, which are valued by Inuit for health benefits, often surpass that of available market foods. Community freezer initiatives are gaining popularity as one option to help support wild food access, and thus food security, in northern Canada. Little information exists, however, about how these initiatives help facilitate wild food access for residents. A case study was undertaken in Nain, Nunatsiavut to understand: (1) how the Nain community freezer influences access to wild foods; and (2) key factors that community freezer management could consider to better support food security in their communities. Results indicate characteristics of the socio-cultural, economic, and natural environment are challenging wild food access for Nain community freezer users. Factors for consideration in future management include: issues of supply, dependency, social exclusion, and tensions between the feasibility of operations and the representation of traditional values.