Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security in the Canadian Arctic

“Many indigenous peoples depend on hunting polar bear, walrus, seals, and caribou, herding, fishing and gathering, not only for food and to support the local economy but also as the basis for cultural and social identity.” ACIA, p.93

“Changes in the species’ ranges and availability, access to these, a perceived reduction in weather predictability, and travel safety in changing ice and weather conditions present serious challenges to human health and food security, and possibly even the survival of some cultures.” ACIA, p.61

Links to cultural security Food security for Inuit is not simply reliable access to nutritious food. It is also strongly linked to cultural security. Food security goes beyond the mere satisfaction of physical needs – it integrates the social and cultural symbolism of food, which determines what food is and which foods are appropriate for human consumption. Inuit still partly derive their self-worth, individually and collectively, from traditions associated with hunting, fishing, and gathering. More than a mere means of obtaining the foodstuffs required for physical survival, these practices represent an important aspect of community integration. Activities related to subsistence represent an important foundation for the social and economic organization of Inuit communities. (Thériault et al , 2007) In Chukotka the deteriorating health of the reindeer herds is already affecting the value of reindeer products from the region. Historically, reindeer and products from Chukotka were prized for quality and strength, and people were willing to trade their most valuable items for a good, pregnant, female reindeer ( vazhenka ) or a sire. Now, there are insufficient numbers of herdsmen and veterinary surgeons to attend to the growing number of sickly and injured reindeer, and there are no trained or qualified firefighters in the region, despite the rising number of tundra fires from increased thunderstorms which is destroying the limited and marginal pastures. Further, there are not enough modern factories for processing the products of reindeer breeding, which only adds to the challenge of competing in a contemporary market. With the challenges these pose, Chukotkans are finding it hard to provide enough food from the land and without the cash economy, they cannot buy what they need.

Links to external factors Local food security across the Arctic is affected by a range of external factors.

Economic factors

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High cost of food because of remoteness of communities.

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High costs of fuel and equipment to practice subsistence economies, due to remote location and high fuel prices in general Low incomes and limited job opportunities result in insufficient resources to purchase store-bought food or fuel to travel for hunting. Climate change exacerbates economic problems because in many cases it has become necessary to travel further in order to obtain sufficient food. USFWS listing of the polar bear as threatened throughout its range. This was brought on by international concerns over climate change, but runs roughshod over local Inuit needs. EU seal ban. Though not aimed directly at Inuit, the ban in the 1980s had disastrous effects on Inuit communities and resulted in a surging suicide rate among young Inuit men whose hope for the future plummeted.

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Political factors

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IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD SECURITY IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC