Beyond access: understanding First Nations’ food environments and their pathways to food sovereignty

Indigenous food environments (FE) have been deeply shaped by colonial disruptions to traditional land use, governance, and food systems. Environmental degradation, economic inequities, and systemic barriers to traditional food access have contributed to reduced access to traditional foods and, in turn, to health disparities, nutritional inequities, and diminished opportunities for culturally grounded diets. Across Indigenous communities globally, food environments are not solely defined by physical access to markets, but by cultural, relational, and intergenerational dimensions—that is, practices passed down across generations that connect people to food, land, and each other.In Canada, First Nations (FN) communities experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity. However, national surveillance systems like the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) exclude First Nations living on reserve. The First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (FNFNES), the only nationally representative study, has revealed the severity of food insecurity in FN communities and highlighted the importance of traditional food access. These inequities were further magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities within food systems and intensified barriers to food security and health. While existing research often frames food access in terms of market availability and affordability, this approach tends to overlook the central role of traditional food environments—spaces for harvesting, sharing, and cultural expression that are shaped by policies, governance, and deeply rooted community traditions. A gap remains in understanding FN food environments as lived, dynamic experiences shaped by cultural, governance, and community relationships. Exploring how communities influence their environments through daily practices, policy shifts, and collective action is essential to broadening food environment conceptualizations beyond physical food access.This thesis contributes to this understanding through a multi-phase qualitative study situated within a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. It focuses on food access experiences during the pandemic, the community-level processes shaping traditional food access, and the relational and ethical insights gained from long-term engagement in Indigenous health research.Using a qualitative multiple-methods approach, this research was conducted in three phases, each employing a distinct methodology. This work is part of the Food, Environment, Health and Nutrition of First Nations Children and Youth (FEHNCY) study, a national initiative focused on understanding the health, nutrition, and environments of First Nations children and youth (ages 3–19) living on reserves.Study 1 used a phenomenological approach to explore how COVID-19 shaped food access experiences in two participating FN communities. Drawing from 41 in-depth interviews and two modified-Talking Circles with community members, parents, and caregivers, the study documented emotional, logistical, and cultural experiences of accessing food during the pandemic. Participants shared stories of disrupted supply chains, increased reliance on traditional food, and collective efforts to care for one another. Findings highlighted the resilience of community members, the revitalization of traditional food practices, and challenges linked to land dispossession and territorial restrictions. Traditional food access during the pandemic fostered a sense of security, cultural identity, and strengthened self-determination. Many participants described the pandemic as a moment of reflection and reconnection with the land—reinforcing traditional ways of being and doing.Study 2 examined how different levels within the community food environment shaped traditional food access in two FN communities, using thematic analysis guided by the socio-ecological model. Data collection included 28 key informant interviews, five participatory food environment mapping sessions, and modified-Talking Circles with children and youth. The analysis identified five distinct pathways that influenced traditional food access: environmental (e.g., climate change, pollution), cultural and societal (e.g., traditional knowledge, identity), community (e.g., collective food programs), familial (e.g., caregiving and role modeling), and individual (e.g., confidence and food skills). Each pathway offered a unique lens for understanding food access and reflected the diverse influences that communities navigate. Community-led initiatives—such as culturally guided gardens and intergenerational knowledge-sharing programs—emerged as central resilience strategies. Resilience surfaced throughout the data as a core thread, showing how FN communities respond to barriers through cultural strength, advocacy, and care.Study 3 is a reflexive account of my long-term engagement in the FEHNCY project, drawing on five years of involvement across two qualitative studies and multiple phases of community work. Using reflexive journals, field notes, co-developed materials, and meeting documentation as primary data, I reflect on how my responsibilities, relationships, and ethical decisions evolved over time. Anchored in the 4 R’s Framework—Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, and Responsibility—I examine three key tensions: navigating shifting research priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic; balancing institutional expectations with shared leadership in participatory work; and addressing challenges in returning results due to misaligned timelines. Rather than presenting survey results, this study centers the process of engagement itself, offering insight into the emotional, relational, and ethical complexities of conducting long-term, community-based research as a student researcher.Together, these three studies offer a layered understanding of First Nations traditional food environments. Study 1 centers lived experiences of food access during the pandemic, Study 2 maps the multilevel pathways influencing traditional food access, and Study 3 reflects on the relational and ethical dimensions of sustained community engagement. By integrating phenomenological, thematic, and reflexive approaches within a CBPR approach, this thesis underscores the importance of community-defined priorities, Indigenous knowledge systems, and long-term relationships in shaping meaningful and equitable research. In doing so, it contributes to decolonizing food environment research by foregrounding Indigenous experiences, engagement practices, and collective strategies of resilience

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