By: Ava Smith
Modern food and land systems contribute to negative environmental effects such as soil depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. This immense ecological degradation is due to a demand for producing more agricultural goods at a lower price, along with the use of pollutive industrial farming equipment. Yet, this societal phenomenon to constantly produce more and more has actually done little to nothing when it comes to alleviating food insecurity. As a matter of fact, food insecurity is increasing worldwide, with over 820 million people starving and 2 billion affected worldwide. In comparison, 476 million Indigenous peoples are achieving zero hunger in communities at a much faster rate than most western countries.
Food security is only one benefit of Indigenous food systems. Indigenous food systems preserve biodiversity, provide many nutrient-dense foods, and are low carbon. This is accomplished by consuming many high-nutrient foods without heavy machinery. According to a UN study, many animal species used in Indigenous culture and food are nutrient-dense, and are in biodiverse areas (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). This study also discovered that Indeginous communities cultivate hundreds of foods from their environments, without destroying their natural resources. For example, Quechua communities in Peru still have incredibly high potato diversity, and they are able to do this through traditional farming methods handed down from generation to generation.
The Quechua territory donated potatoes to people in need in Peru during the pandemic
Photo From: International Institute for Environment and Development
Another example of preserving the earth is found in Finland's Arctic area the Inari Sami people generate most of their food through fishing, hunting and herding, operating quite differently in comparison to the mechanistic food production systems many Americans use.The Inari Sami people consume a diet based on fatty fish, reindeer red meat, fat, blood, wild berries, and low consumption of vegetables and fruit, fibre, and bread. The key to these biodiverse outcomes are due to the Seventh Generation Principle, which originates from an old Haudenosaunee philosophy emphasizing that the actions of today should create a sustainable outcome seven generations into the future. This also ensures food security for the future, since you are thinking about further generations and how to preserve the resources for them.
The Inari Sami peoples and reindeer
Photo from: Lapland
Moreover, Indigenous food systems rely on generational knowledge and ancestral values such as solidarity, balance, and reciprocity. Unfortunately, there are some challenges with Indigenous food systems, like fleeting loss of Indigenous knowledge as many indigenous communities are stripped from their homelands. As a result, many younger members often turn to the ways of living that many westerners embrace; and therefore lack the knowledge passed down that elders obtain.
Despite immense challenges in the 21st century, Indigenous food systems are proven to be sustainable, support biodiversity, provide food security, and Indigenous People’s rights to land and natural resources must be respected in order to help preserve their food systems. By preserving Indigenous food systems and practices, we can also help mitigate climate change and our effect on nature. To do so, many modern agriculture companies can recognize and prioritize the health of nature, rather than the profit of it. Supporting biodiversity requires understanding of indigenous practices and how they have helped to combat climate change.
Discussion Questions
What can society learn from Indigenous food systems when it comes to mitigating climate change?
Why is it important to respect other cultures' food systems?
Works Cited
Indigenous peoples' food systems hold the key to feeding humanity. International Institute for Environment and Development. (2020, November 15). https://www.iied.org/indigenous-peoples-food-systems-hold-key-feeding-humanity.
Joseph, B. (n.d.). What is the seventh Generation Principle? Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/seventh-generation-principle.
Morrison, O. (2021, August 13). What can food companies learn about sustainability from indigenous peoples' FOOD SYSTEMS? foodnavigator.com. https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/08/13/What-can-food-companies-learn-about-sustainability-from-Indigenous-Peoples-food-systems#.
Working Group on Indigenous Food Sovereignty. (2010, January 30). Indigenous food systems - a Web-based centre for increasing awareness of issues related To protecting, conserving and restoring the myriad of INDIGENOUS food based cultures across Canada. Indigenous Food Systems Network. https://www.indigenousfoodsystems.org/.