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Area of Science:

• Indigenous Food Sovereignty
• Urban Ecology
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Indigenous Food Sovereignty (IFS) initiatives are emerging in Canadian urban centers.
• These initiatives aim to revitalize Indigenous foods, promote food security, and enhance land-based connections in cities.
• The unique socio-ecological impacts on urban IFS have not been fully explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how place impacts Indigenous Food Sovereignty initiatives within urban environments.
• To understand the experiences of urban Indigenous people leading IFS efforts.
• To identify how urban contexts shape IFS and place-making practices.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews were conducted with seven urban Indigenous individuals leading IFS initiatives.
• Community-based participatory methods were applied.
• Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Two main themes emerged: Land access and place-making practices.
• Land access was influenced by landowner relationships, land control, and external factors.
• Place-making practices included fostering relationships with the land, upholding responsibilities, and cultivating land-based knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Urban Indigenous Food Sovereignty initiatives are dynamically influenced by land access.
• These initiatives actively contribute to place-making for urban Indigenous Peoples.
• Findings offer pathways for Indigenous self-determination and IFS in urban settings, with broader applicability.