{"id":2937,"date":"2025-04-26T01:57:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T23:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/?p=2937"},"modified":"2025-04-20T23:11:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-20T21:11:45","slug":"food-transitions-and-indigenous-knowledges-in-arctic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/2025\/04\/26\/food-transitions-and-indigenous-knowledges-in-arctic\/","title":{"rendered":"Food, transitions and Indigenous knowledges in Arctic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Food, transitions and Indigenous knowledges \u2013 finding new pathways towards resilient societies in the High North, in the Arctic.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

29\u201330 September 2025 | Lycksele<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Arctic Forum is the meeting place where researchers, decision-makers, civil society and industry can discuss issues of sustainable development from an Arctic perspective.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome to Arctic Forum 2025! The theme is “Food, transitions and Indigenous knowledges”, where we meet to explore new ways towards resilient societies in the North by preparing and sharing meals with one another. We invite researchers, decision-makers, stakeholders, civil society, and especially young people to join the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using food as a ticket to talk and think and imagine in new ways<\/strong>
At the forum, focus will be on workshops where we forage, prepare and share seasonal food together to support co-creation, deep listening and collaborative thinking. The worksops will follow five themes which will involve thinking through embodied approaches, using food and eating practices, to co-create new possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take this opportunity to learn more about food, transitions and Indigenous knowledges. Meet our keynotes and join in on the discussion through workshops, joint meals, a hike in the forest, and a visit to the Forest and S\u00e1mi museum!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program (will be updated)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Day 1, 29\/9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

09:30 Optional event
<\/strong>\u2013 Visit the forest and learn about and forage for local foods
11:45 Mingle lunch
12:45 Welcome<\/strong>
– Welcome address and keynotes 1 and 2
14:00 Workshops, part 1<\/strong>
– The workshops will follow the themes. We discuss and make plan for meals. Details will be provided later.
17:00 Dinner<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 2, 30\/9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

9:00 Keynote 3 and 4<\/strong>
10:00 Workshops, part 2<\/strong>
– Prepare meals which will feed into lunch.
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Presentations of workshop findings and panel discussion<\/strong>
\u2013 With guests from Canada and Australia.
16:00 Formal ending of the Forum<\/strong>
16:30 Optional social gatherings:<\/strong>
\u2013 Exchange between Indigenous guests sharing visions from three continents
\u2013Visit at the Forest and S\u00e1mi museum<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Caribou
Caribou Carpaccio. Credits: Arctic Kingdom<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Keynotes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Adrianne Lickers Xavier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Assistant Professor in Indigenous Studies, McMaster University, Canada<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Doctor Adrianne Xavier’s research interests include Indigenous food security, Indigenous land connections and rematriation, Indigenous food ways, and Indigenous ways of knowing. She teaches in the areas of Contemporary Indigenous Issues, Indigenous Food Security and Food Systems, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Methodologies. Her community is the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, where she works to grow the understanding and capacity around food security and sovereignty. She is the newest lead of the Indigenous Mentorship Network for Ontario focusing on the support of students, faculty and Indigenous research in the broad spectrum of Indigenous Health.
More about Adrianne Xavier<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Laure Saulais<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Professor at the Department of Agri-Food Economics and Consumer Sciences, Laval University, Canada<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Professor Laure Saulais oversees graduate programs in Consumer Science and specializes in behavioral economics and consumer sciences. She is also a researcher at the Centre Interuniversitaire en Analyse des Organisations (CIRANO) and the NUTRISS Research Center within the Institute for Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF). Her research explores the demand-side perspective of food system sustainability with the aim of supporting the transition towards more sustainable food consumption models. Her current projects focus on food procurement decision-making within institutional foodservice, and on the roles of food sustainability literacy and information on individual consumers\u2019 food choices.
More about Laurie Saulais<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aunty Patricia Ellis, OAM<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Business Enterprise Owner\/Operator, Minga Aboriginal Cultural Services.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Patricia Ann Ellis, OAM, is a Brinja Yuin and Walbunja elder and cultural knowledge holder, recognised for her extensive contributions to the Indigenous community. Awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2023, she has received multiple accolades for Aboriginal cultural promotion, advocacy and leadership. Patricia runs Minga Aboriginal Cultural Services, offering cultural experiences and education. With 41 years at New South Wales’ Technical and Further Education (TAFE NSW), she has significantly advanced Aboriginal language learning and cultural awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patricia’s roles include leadership positions in local and national Aboriginal organisations, consultant to local, state and national government on Aboriginal issues, she chaired the Eurobodalla Shire Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee, and was joint management coordinator of the handback of two National Parks to Aboriginal ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tricia is a published author, lifelong community advocate, proud mother and grandmother, held in the highest regard by Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals, organisations and public authorities as a cultural knowledge holder.
Patricia, on being awarded the OAM<\/a><\/strong> 
Minga Aboriginal Cultural Services<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susanne Jonsson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chef, MSc Gastronomy\/Food and culinary science, Research assistant Ume\u00e5 Institute of Design, Ume\u00e5 University<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Susanne Jonsson is a chef, author, and entrepreneur deeply passionate about sustainable food systems and celebrating S\u00e1mi culinary heritage. With studies on well-being at Yale University and a Master’s degree in Gastronomy from Ume\u00e5 University, Susanne combines academic rigor with hands-on experience, promoting community, joy, and pleasure in food. Her master thesis on moose meat became a best-selling book, and her seven books has been sold in over 100 000 copies. She has worked on several TV and radio shows including Go\u2019kv\u00e4ll at SVT, the slow-tv show Susannes skafferi, and the show \u00c1hkkus mat (Grandma\u2019s food) where S\u00e1mi children cook traditional dishes for their grandparents. Susannes books and work has been awarded multiple times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susanne is currently exploring ways to design sustainable food and meal systems as a project assistant at Ume\u00e5 Institute of Design. Rooted in her S\u00e1mi, Swedish, and American background, Susanne brings a unique perspective to the intersection of food, culture, and resilience in the Arctic.
More about Susanne<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Themes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Decolonising the dietary transition in the North<\/strong>
Dietary transition for sustainability could be seen as a new form of colonialism, affecting the traditions and cultural identity of indigenous peoples In this theme, we explore what dietary transition means from a decolonized perspective, focusing on the views of indigenous people and others living in the Arctic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenges of “greenwashing” from Arctic perspectives<\/strong>
Greenwashing is when industries, their products, or policies try to appear environmentally friendly. However, this can sometimes be condescending. In this theme, we explore what greenwashing means in practice in the North.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kitchen as Commons: Food-Making, Embodied Knowledge, and Ecologies of Empowerment<\/strong>
Commons are shared resources that are collectively maintained by communities. This roundtable explores the kitchen as a cultural commons where marginalised groups reclaim space and agency through food-making. We will discuss how culinary practices resist othering; express identity, memory, and belonging; and reflect on food as a tool for cultural resilience and empowerment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food and provisioning<\/strong>
Sweden relies on importing food, but due to the current geopolitical issues, imported food might not be as available. In this theme, we explore how to achieve food security in a way that is respectful of the Indigenous peoples, the biodiversity, and the global scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indigenous knowledges in whole-of-society transitions<\/strong>
S\u00e1mi knowledges are not currently centred in societal discourse and decision-making, yet they are vital to realising\u00a0fair, just, sustainable and regenerative ways of living in the North. In this theme, we will prepare and share food to create space for new ways of thinking about how First Peoples\u2019 knowledges can guide societal change in response to northern challenges. Participants are encouraged to bring forward real-world issues and ideas for collective reflection and discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organisers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Professor Danielle Wilde<\/strong>, Arctic Six Chair, in collaboration with members of the UMU Sympoietic Research Collaboratory for making with food and cultures: Susanne Jonsson<\/strong> (project assistant and chef) and Lena Naqvi<\/strong> (PhD Candidate).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Armando Perez-Cueto<\/strong>, Arctic Six Chair, in collaboration with members of the research group Sustainable Food Transitions at Ume\u00e5 University and of the Profile Area \u201cPlant science for a sustainable green transformation of the Subarctic\u201d: Arturo Turillazzi<\/strong> (PhD Student), Jean-Paul Garin<\/strong> (PhD student).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisers have planned the Forum with funding and support from the Arctic Centre at Ume\u00e5 University<\/strong> and the prioritised research area Plant science for a sustainable green transformation of the Subarctic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Finding new pathways towards resilient societies in the High North, in the Arctic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2938,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-habitat"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2937"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2939,"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2937\/revisions\/2939"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}