Ethnographic Explorations of the Foodways of Three Generations of Women in Kasabonika Lake First Nation

Abstract

Many First Nations communities in Canada face an array of health disparities. The high burden of disease can be attributed to numerous and complex factors involving social, political, and historical processes. Oftentimes, these factors are not always discussed, as attention is placed upon the physical determinants of health. There is a need for research that focuses on the importance of both social and cultural determinants of health, and more so in this instance, the wellness of this First Nation. This paper explores exchanges occurring within the space of the teepee and the culturally relevant activities shared between three generations of First Nations women as a form of cultural transmission and identity formation. Four months of ethnographic fieldwork centers on activities relating to land based food procurement, preparation and sharing. The culturally relevant space of the teepee poses a significant benefit to these women and for the reclamation and maintenance of their culture. A postcolonial, subaltern lens is applied to facilitate understanding of historical influences, and consideration is made for the changing contemporary landscape of First Nations communities. Through community-based participation the experience and voice of these women is brought to the forefront.