Engaging Indigenous Youth to Revitalize Cree Culture through Participatory Education

Traditional food harvesting is an integral part of culture and food security for Indigenous people in Canada and elsewhere. However, new generations are more inclined to consuming market foods rather than traditional foods. We report on a project in Norway House Cree Nation, northern Manitoba, Canada, to engage youth to express their thoughts about traditional food. The objective was to explore the understanding and values of Indigenous youth about traditional foods and to engage them in revitalizing culture toward long-term food security. We used participatory research approaches and engaged participants in focus group discussions followed by a collaborative art project. Our conceptual framework postulates a cycle whereby food security planning depends on engaging youth and the community, and planning in turn energizes further planning and participatory education. The findings of the article are likely of interest to Indigenous communities dealing with planning and intergenerational issues around food security.