An Empirical Analysis of Food Expenditures by First Nation Households in Canada: Factors Affecting Household Food Security

Abstract

Indigenous peoples in Canada experience food insecurity at rates higher than any other Indigenous group in industrialized nations. It is estimated that 40–70 percent of First Nation households face food insecurity, compared to 7 percent for Settler populations. In this study, we use disaggregate household food expenditure data from 466 First Nation households in six First Nation communities located in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan to explore the influence of household income, household size, age of head-of-household, and distance to commercial food markets on the quantity and types of foods purchased. We also explore spatial inequalities and issues related to the accessibility of food. Results indicate that while income, size, and age of the household head are significant determinants of total food expenditures, their impact changes with the type of food purchased and with the community. With the dietary transition of First Nations from traditional subsistence-based localized food systems to store bought foods, this study of the new food consumption paradigm has important implications for public policies on mitigating food insecurity in First Nation communities and for food subsidy programs such as Nutrition North Canada.