The desire to work for a holistic food system that is to a greater extent based on traditional food is increasing globally.
The traditional food systems of the indigenous peoples in the Arctic are good examples of a holistic use of reindeer meat as a resource, of good adaptability, coexistence with the local environment and of the interaction with local biodiversity. From originally being a part of self-sufficiency in the north, reindeer products have today also developed into a commodity.
The commercialisation of reindeer products poses several challenges for traditional food systems. The challenges are social, economic and ecological, as well as concerns about how these changes affect indigenous peoples' rights in terms of materials, knowledge and economic returns.
New collaborations for new knowledge
The aim of the project has been to establish collaboration with important representatives of reindeer husbandry organisations and companies that market reindeer products. This was done through organising different workshops, where reindeer herders, interest groups and the cross-disciplinary research group together has generated knowledge and identifed new areas for future collaborations.
The long-term goal has been to find alternative ways for reindeer herders to develop and sell their products and to increase knowledge and understanding in society of the importance that traditional food systems plays for food security.
The project's cross-disciplinary research group represents disciplines such as economics, sociology, business research, law and IT. The project has been carried out in collaboration with indigenous and reindeer husbandry organisations and food producers among indigenous peoples.
The project focused on three reindeer herding indigenous groups: Sami in Sweden, Sami in Finland, and Nenets in Russia.
Workshops
Final workshop 1-2 Dec 2021: Voicing indigenous food sovereignty in the global North: Concerns and struggles in Sweden, Finland, Russia and Canada
Digital worskhop 7 June 2021: En vision för samisk mat i de nordligaste regionerna. See recordings on YouTube
Workshop 11 september 2020: Archangelsk/Murmansk/Rovaniemi/Uppsala/Umeå
Umeå 3 mars 2020: First workshop
Publications
Eriksson, Robin, 2021. Árbediehtu eller innovation : ett urfolksperspektiv på Norrbottens livsmedelsstrategi.
Falk Eliasson, Isak, 2021. Samisk mat i Västerbottens livsmedelsstrategi 2020-2030.
Asztalos Morell, Ildikó; Falk-Eliasson, Isak; Eriksson, Robin, 2023. Future Food Reports #23. Urfolksperspektiv på livsmedelsstrategin.
