Government of Nunavut

Published purpose

Traditional berries and edible/medicinal plants are integral to the Inuit food system/culture/identity. However, Inuit communities' access to traditional tundra plants is impacted by loss of local mixed economies/traditional knowledge and extreme temporal/spatial variability in species abundance. The harsh Arctic environment imposes severe constraints on plant development, further intensified by climate change, limiting the availability/accessibility of harvesting opportunities. The lack of reliable information, resources, and published knowledge (traditional/research) regarding High Arctic traditional plant food production, along with limited access to reproductive materials, represents major obstacles for Inuit communities seeking to cultivate their preferred traditional plants and support their food autonomy/food security.