Who Decides? Inuit Food Sovereignty in a Changing Arctic

Abstract

Inuit food insecurity in the Arctic has become a chronic issue due to colonial processes and, increasingly, climate change. While food security approaches by external forces have fallen short, Inuit peoples are finding innovative ways to reclaim their right to self-determined food. This paper argues that addressing Inuit food insecurity requires a shift away from a food security model that maintains external dependency and towards a food sovereignty model, which recognizes the historical and cultural context of food insecurity and centers Inuit autonomy. I first provide an overview of the Arctic food crisis and the current food security model operated on by non-Indigenous Arctic actors, then contrast these with Inuit-led efforts to rebuild local food systems. The last section addresses climate change and how it may influence Inuit and Western governmental negotiation of key food resources.