Food security meeting kicks off in Iqaluit

The first Nunavut Food Security Symposium opened Monday night in Iqaluit.

The four-day meeting was organized by the Nunavut government and Nunavut Tunngavik. Government representatives, businesses, activists and others will talk about how to make food more accessible in Nunavut. Participants will help prepare a food security strategy for Nunavut.

Economic Development and Transportation Minister Peter Taptuna, Premier Eva Aariak and Nunavut Tunngavik President Cathy Towtongie made the opening remarks at the Iqaluit soup kitchen.

Presentations by Tukisigiarvik's David Wilman, and Leesee Papatsie and Eric Joamie from Feeding My Family followed.

Aariak said the meetings will touch upon "the networks for sharing food among families and communities, efforts to pass along hunting skills between generations, [and] the role of businesses and community markets in distributing food." 

Wilman said there are lots of groups and plans in place, but "we need to start acting quickly and decisively to start connecting these dots that aren't being connected right now."

Papatsie said she wants participants to think about low income people — elders, the working poor and single parents — during this week's meetings.

The first full day of the symposium was to feature a series of panel discussions, focused on access to country food.