Traditional foods have cultural significance as they are shared in cultural patterns of exchange, strengthen one’s sense of identity and community bonds, and connect people to the environment. Despite a decrease in local food acquisition, there are initiatives in the Yukon which aim to preserve traditional knowledge and cultural practices. For example, “Going Off, Going Strong” pairs youth with elders so that they can hunt and prepare food together, passing on knowledge from one generation to the next. Furthermore, traditional foods have important health benefits, providing the body with many essential nutrients. For example, rose hips have three times as much Vitamin C as an orange. In addition, moose is an excellent source of protein. Amazingly, one moose can feed two families for an entire year! The exceptional dietary adequacy of traditional foods is illustrated by Suzanne Crocker’s mission to feed her family of five for one year with only local foods. With the exception of Vitamin C and Iodine, Crocker found that her nutrient levels met or exceeded all dietary requirements. With the addition of table salt for Iodine and an increased consumption of berries for Vitamin C, Crocker believes that it is possible that the primary consumption of traditional foods can provide the body with all the essential nutrients required for health. In addition, Crocker was able to maintain a healthy weight, a normal blood pressure, had plenty of energy, and slept well. In contrast to traditional foods which adequately meet cultural and health needs; imported foods are nutrient poor, calorically dense, high in saturated fats, highly processed, and lack cultural importance. Notably, the nutrient content of imported foods diminishes after it is harvested elsewhere and transported into the Yukon. For example, Crocker informed us that spinach loses 75% Folate and 50% Vitamin C three days after harvest. Furthermore, the consumption of imported foods has negatively impacted the health of Yukon residents, illustrated with increasing rates of obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes in the territory. 

            The nutritional transition towards imported foods has many negative cultural and health impacts. Therefore, it is important to return to local food production and consumption through sustainable methods of hunting, farming, gathering, and fishing. Evidently, traditional foods play an important role in improving food security as they provide many cultural and health benefits.

            Here is a picture of a nutrient-rich lunch from the Alchemy Café in Dawson. The locally sourced beans, seeds, broccoli, carrots, and grit tasted amazing!

            Many years ago the Yukon River provided bountiful salmon to the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Hän Nation, serving as one of their primary sources of nourishment. Today, salmon populations continue to decrease despite conservation efforts made by the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Hän Nation to voluntarily stop fishing salmon for 7 years. The continuous decrease in salmon populations can be attributed to climate change, which affects navigation abilities and life cycles of the fish. Sammy, a guide at the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, indicated that salmon are often found with an exceptional amount of unfertilized eggs in their stomach because they are unable to navigate to mating areas. It is also important to note that salmon is one of the only iodine-rich food sources in the Yukon. The decreased availability of salmon negatively affects nourishment as well as cultural practices of fishing. 

            In addition, the hunting success of caribou has declined due to changes in the migratory patterns of the Porcupine herd. The annual migration of the Porcupine herd across Tombstone Park and Dempster Highway is one of the greatest land movements of life on land anywhere in the world. During our camping trip to Tombstone Park, we were able to see small herds of caribou as depicted in the picture below. Furthermore, oil development projects in the calving grounds of the Porcupine herd have the potential to eliminate the herd, resulting in decreased caribou populations. This herd is an important food source as well as an integral part of Gwich’in culture. Both changes in migration patterns and declines in herd populations affect the availability of caribou, resulting in negative health and cultural implications. 

            In contrast, one positive benefit of climate change is longer growing seasons which allows for more agricultural opportunities. For example, the Klondike River Nursery takes advantage of long summer days to grow fruit trees and harvest these fruits later in the fall. In addition, longer growing seasons allow farmer Otto to grow thirty different kinds of vegetables including kale, broccoli, onions, garlic, chives, cauliflower, and arugula. Evidently, longer growing seasons increase the availability of locally grown produce for Yukon residents. 

            In conclusion, climate change results in the decreased availability of country foods, which are required for the maintenance of health and tradition of Yukon residents. Although there are many negative impacts associated with climate change, it is also important to recognize the positive agricultural opportunities climate change introduces.