INUVIK, NT — The Aurora Research Institute (ARI) at Aurora College is the new host of the Northern Canada Food Initiatives map, an interactive map depicting food-related initiatives in the Far North. This exciting project is now available online and will be hosted by ARI for 10 years. The map was created by the Social Planning Council of Sudbury, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and community action and supported by the Feed Opportunity Fund by the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security.
The Northern Canada Food Initiatives map is a GIS map that depicts food initiatives using eight food system categories; it has query options and can be used as a visual directory. The map will be a tool for program coordinators, NGO's, funders, governments, and the general public to access information about food initiatives and food assets, and will strengthen opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and evaluation.
The map is a key part of the Northern Canada Food Security Mapping and Network Analysis project, which included a social network analysis (SNA) that was used to understand how existing social networks and actors related to food security in the Far North interact within various food system themes. The survey used for the SNA also evaluated food organizations’ capacity and barriers to food security in Northern Canada.
The Northern Canada Food Initiatives map is on the ARI platform. The map will be maintained by ARI, whose team will continue to build and advance the initiative. The map includes the following regions in Canada’s Far North: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut.
Other interested research outcomes associated with the Northern Canada Food Initiatives Map include:
- The Northern Canada Food Security Mapping and Network Analysis (available in English and Inuvialuktun).
- The Northern Canada Food Security Policy Atlas, an online hub for citizens, researchers, businesses, community, and political leaders to learn about food security in Northern Canada. The atlas combines a food initiatives directory, policy papers, as well as community-based research and food security projects. It is designed to provide new insights, share learnings, and inspire actions and solutions.
Partners
ARI's mandate is to improve the quality of life for NT residents by applying scientific, technological, and Indigenous knowledge to solve northern problems and advance social and economic goals.
The Social Planning Council of Sudbury (SPCS) is a non-profit that brings people together to facilitate a planning process that leads to positive change and community action. This is accomplished through social planning, research and coordination, social policy advocacy, community development, and education.
The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security (the Centre) collaborates and supports programs that advance the capacity of people and communities to achieve sustainable food security. They support actions that further learning, networking, and measurement to assess program impact and advance knowledge sharing.