title: Development of a strategic plan for food security and safety in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Canada.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current social and environmental changes in the Arctic challenge the health and well-being of its residents. Developing evidence-informed adaptive measures in response to these changes is a priority for communities, governments and researchers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop strategic planning to promote food security and food safety in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study using group discussions during a workshop.
  
  
  METHODS
  A regional workshop gathered Inuit organizations and community representatives, university-based researchers from the Inuit Health Survey (IHS) and NWT governmental organizations. Discussions were structured around the findings from the IHS. For each key area, programs and activities were identified and prioritized by group discussion and voting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The working group developed a vision for future research and intervention, which is to empower communities to promote health, well-being and environmental sustainability in the ISR. The group elaborated missions for the region that address the following issues: (a) capacity building within communities; (b) promotion of the use of traditional foods to address food security; (c) research to better understand the linkages between diseases and contaminants in traditional foods, market foods and lifestyle choices; (d) and promotion of affordable housing. Five programs to address each key area were developed as follows: harvest support and traditional food sharing; education and promotion; governance and policy; research; and housing. Concrete activities were identified to guide future research and intervention projects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the planning workshop provide a blueprint for future research and intervention projects.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fillion
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada ; School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laird
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Pelt
authors.affiliation: Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Inuvik, NT, Canada.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Archie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada ; School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Hing Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D004493:Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000379:methods*; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015873:Northwest Territories; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012449:Safety
keywords: Inuit; Inuvialuit Settlement Region; food security; health; participatory approach; planning; workshop