Food Security and Food Sovereignty: The Difference Between Surviving and Thriving: Health Promotion Practice

T.L. Maudrie, C.J. Nguyen, R.E. Wilbur, M. Mucioki, K.R. Clyma, G.L. Ferguson, V.B.B. Jernigan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous research in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities has documented high prevalence of food insecurity. Yet many AI/AN scholars and communities have expressed concerns that the dominant societal conceptions of food security are not reflective of the teachings, priorities, and values of AI/AN communities. Food security initiatives often focus on access to food and, at times, nutrition but little consideration is given to cultural foods, the spirituality carried through foods, and whether the food was stewarded in a way that promotes well-being not just for humans but also for plants, animals, land, and water. Despite the concerns of AI/AN communities that their needs are not centered in dominant societal food conceptualizations and food security programming, the food sovereignty efforts of AI/AN communities have captured national attention as a solution to modern food system inequities. Indigenous Food Sovereignty (IFS) is a holistic approach to food that incorporates values of relationality, reciprocity, and relationships. Fundamental differences exist between food security and food sovereignty, yet dominant society often reduces IFS as a solution to food security, rather than an entirely different food system that is predicated on values that contrast with that of dominant society. Despite calls to decolonize the definition and measurement of food security, we explore whether fixing the concept of food security is a worthy endeavor or whether efforts would be better spent supporting the resurgence and revitalization of AI/AN food values, food knowledge, and community food sovereignty initiatives. © 2023 Society for Public Health Education.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1075-1079
Number of pages5
JournalHealth Promot. Pract.
Volume24
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Keywords

  • American Indian/Alaska native
  • community–academic partnership
  • decolonization
  • food security
  • food sovereignty
  • foodways
  • health equity
  • indigenous
  • indigenous communities
  • indigenous food sovereignty
  • indigenous knowledge
  • nutrition
  • structural determinants of health
  • Food
  • Food Security
  • Food Supply
  • Humans
  • Nutritional Status
  • American Indian
  • article
  • attention
  • human
  • catering service
  • food
  • nutritional status

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Food Security and Food Sovereignty: The Difference Between Surviving and Thriving: Health Promotion Practice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this