7 pp. / This article introduces the popular mole (pronounced: MOH-lay) sauces that are typically served in three regions (the North, Central, and South) of Mexico. It also discusses how this popular Mexican food can promote healthy meal cooking, which can reflect traditional foods of the land.

This thesis examines the ethnobotany, physiology, anatomy, and nutritional value of edible lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Louden var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson ) cambium. Many First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest historically used lodgepole pine cambium. It was so popular among interior First Peoples of British Columbia that it was considered a universal food. Even though harvesting and consumption of pine cambium is diminishing in popularity today, I was able to learn from some Tsilhqot‟in First Peoples on Redstone Reserve who had prior experience with pine cambium. Nutritional analysis of lodgepole pine cambium revealed the tissues to be high in protein and sugar as well as a suite of micronutrients, which contribute to overall immunity and electrolyte balance. While lodgepole pine cambium is considered a sweet, seasonal treat by many First Peoples it is evident through my analysis that there are added nutritional benefits beyond the pleasure of consumption. This research illustrates an important case study of an endangered traditional food, which can be integrated into modern diets today. It also explores the integration of multiple disciplines of knowledge to inform this subject matter, providing multiple dimensions to understanding cambium production, timing of harvest, and benefit of consumption. / Graduate

The health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples, including their nutritional status, is poor compared to the general Canadian population. There are many causes of these disparities, including racism, poor access to health resources, and the nutrition transition. Before colonization, most First Nations across Canada consumed diets purely composed of Traditional Foods (TF) that were hunted or collected from the natural environment. TF are important for their nutritional quality, food security, and culture. However, rates of TF consumption have decreased in recent years contributing to poor dietary outcomes. The diversity and quantity of TF consumed is thought to be primarily dictated by the ecological biodiversity in the surrounding environment; however, this relationship remains untested in Canada. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of First Nations modern food systems by evaluating the relationship between ecozone biodiversity and nutritional outcomes in the form of dietary diversity in First Nations individuals across Canada. We used dietary data and household data collected by the First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study and multiple biodiversity databases for analyses. Spearman’s correlations were used to investigate the relationship between dietary diversity and nutrition. A statistical model was used to evaluate the relative predictive power of biodiversity and multiple other predictive variables in determining dietary diversity. We found that individuals who consume more TF have more nutrient rich diets, and therefore, dietary diversity is a good indicator of nutrition outcomes. We also found that in contrast to previous research and assumptions, in the context of First Nations living in Canada, biodiversity has a negative relationship to dietary species richness. It was also determined that variables related to culture, and accessibility of TF were the most important factors in predicting positive nutritional outcomes. These preliminary results provide key areas for interventions essential for increasing access to TF.

Reflecting the growing interest from both consumers and policymakers, and building on recent developments in Willingness to Pay (WTP) methodologies, we evaluate consumer preferences for an archetypal traditional food product. Specifically we draw on stated preference data from a discrete choice experiment, considering the traditional Hungarian mangalitza salami. A WTP space specification of the generalized multinomial logit model is employed, which accounts for not only heterogeneity in preferences but also differences in the scale of the idiosyncratic error term. Results indicate that traditional food products can command a substantial premium, albeit contingent on effective quality certification, authentic product composition and effective choice of retail outlet. Promising consumer segments and policy implications are identified. (authors' abstract)

No description available.

The purpose of the study is to illustrate the challenge of providing sufficient micronutrients to the inhabitants of South Africa. Traditional foods have therefore been identified as one of the strategies that can be employed to lessen the problem in the community of Nompumelelo, Eastern Cape province and the research involves the availability of traditional foods in this area. It is common practice for most rural people in South Africa to include traditional foods in their diets and Nompumelelo is no exception. Hence, the study also explores the rural-urban linkage of the use of traditional foods by peri-urban households in the Xhosa community of Nompumelelo. It could be argued that the traditional foods produced in this community are accessible to the whole community, resulting in greater food sustainability. It is a fact that many communities are of the opinion that food is not readily available, not realising that traditional foods are locally available. / Human Ecology / M.A. (Human Ecology)

This thesis addresses food insecurity from an Indigenous fisheries lens and presents a conceptual model by integrating three different but inter-related domains (ecological, cultural, and business) that impact Indigenous food security. Under the broader umbrella of fisheries and food security, the thesis addresses four objectives: (i) to investigate the co-existence of commercial and subsistence fisheries, (ii) to assess food security among commercial and subsistence fishing households, (iii) to explore the meaning of traditional food by engaging Indigenous youth with an objective to revitalize culture, and (iv) to examine the role of the fisherman’s co-operative as a social enterprise to address community economic development. The study was conducted over a period of 14 months (from September 2013 to December 2014) in Norway House Cree Nation, northern Manitoba, Canada. Community members are engaged in both subsistence and commercial fishing. The two kinds of fisheries co-exist, and potential problems of overlap are handled by temporal separation; spatial separation; formal mechanism of monitoring of net ownership; and informal communication for conflict resolution consistent with Cree values. The study found that extensive sharing of fish and other traditional foods by commercial fishers reached almost half of the total population in the community and contributed to improving food security. I used a participatory research approach to engage Indigenous youth to explore the meaning of traditional food. Participants produced a collaborative artwork on the theme of “what traditional food means to you?” This art work functioned as a boundary object, initiating discussion about food security planning in the community. Norway House Fisherman’s Co-op operates as a social enterprise mainly because of fish sharing and its role in business diversification for community economic development. The Chief and Band Council requested an exploration of ways to add value to their existing commercial fisheries. Based on the findings, further development can rely on: (i) better use of existing fish resources, such as the by-catch, (ii) fishing related economic development, such as value-added fish products, and (iii) use of options regarding regulatory bodies, such as eco-certification. / February 2017

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of the study is to illustrate the challenge of providing sufficient micronutrients to the inhabitants of South Africa. Traditional foods have therefore been identified as one of the strategies that can be employed to lessen the problem in the community of Nompumelelo, Eastern Cape province and the research involves the availability of traditional foods in this area. It is common practice for most rural people in South Africa to include traditional foods in their diets and Nompumelelo is no exception. Hence, the study also explores the rural-urban linkage of the use of traditional foods by peri-urban households in the Xhosa community of Nompumelelo. It could be argued that the traditional foods produced in this community are accessible to the whole community, resulting in greater food sustainability. It is a fact that many communities are of the opinion that food is not readily available, not realising that traditional foods are locally available. / Human Ecology / M.A. (Human Ecology)