Government, Inuit Organizations Moving Forward Together with Nunavut Food Security Coalition

IQALUIT, Nunavut (June 28, 2012). Representatives of the Government of Nunavut and Inuit organizations have made progress in establishing the Nunavut Food Security Coalition.

The coalition will be made up of representatives from eight Government of Nunavut departments, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Kitikmeot Inuit Association, Kivalliq Inuit Association and Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

“We have heard from Nunavummiut across the territory that food insecurity is a problem that needs to be addressed,” said Minister of Economic Development & Transportation, Peter Taptuna. “I am pleased that the first meeting to create the Nunavut Food Security Coalition was a success and the partners are moving forward collaboratively.” Participants at a meeting held earlier this week agreed to begin work on a Nunavut Food Security Strategy. The strategy is expected to be the focus of discussions to be held on a broad range of issues during the proposed Nunavut Food Security Symposium, scheduled for early 2013.

Several issues that require collaboration were identified during the meeting, including access to country food, pricing, storage and distribution systems, public information and education on food purchasing, and support for community-led food initiatives.

Participants agreed that there are many essential partners, including advocacy groups, the private sector, municipal governments, non-governmental organizations, and researchers. The coalition will propose a formal memorandum of understanding on food security to be signed by government and Inuit organizations. It will set out how community and industry partners can be involved.

The meeting included a presentation by organizers of the “Feeding My Family” movement, whose activism on food pricing has generated strong public interest on food security in Nunavut.

The establishment of the Nunavut Food Security Coalition is an action item included in The Makimaniq Plan: A Shared Approach to Poverty Reduction, prepared during the Poverty Summit in November 2011.

In an announcement made during the Poverty Reduction Summit, Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak made a commitment that the Government of Nunavut will organize and participate in a Nunavut Food Security Coalition.

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Media contact:
Matthew Illaszewicz
Manager, Communications
Department of Economic Development & Transportation
Government of Nunavut
(867) 975-7818
Email: millaszewicz@gov.nu.ca

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