Exploring the connection between salmon and well-being to strengthen a food system intervention in western Alaska

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Author
Nu, Jennifer
Chair
Bersamin, Andrea
Committee
Hoeft, Theresa
Lopez, Ellen
Loring, Philip
Metadata
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URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/4700
Abstract
Effective interventions aimed at changing dietary behaviors in indigenous communities can benefit from understanding local perceptions and values connected to culturally important foods. Formative research in collaboration with community members to explore these perceptions is a necessary step in the process of designing effective interventions, yet few studies elaborate on the details of this process. Research conducted in a remote Yup'ik community in Western Alaska explored the connection between salmon and well-being to strengthen a food system intervention. Qualitative data were collected, collaboratively reviewed with a community work group, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Nine major themes emerged from the analysis to represent aspects of well-being supported by salmon. Ongoing collaboration between academic and community partners informed the development of the final intervention design using the formative research findings. The development of this process to incorporate local meanings of a culturally important food into a food system intervention elucidates one way a community-academic partnership can strengthen food system interventions in indigenous communities.
Description
Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2014.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Literature review -- 1.1. Designing food system interventions to address nutrition transition -- 1.2. Yup'ik perspectives on individual and community well-being -- 1.2.1. Yup'ik worldview -- 1.2.2. Yup'ik conceptions of wellness -- 1.2.3. Intergenerational transmission of knowledge -- 1.2.4. Respect animals and the natural environment -- 1.2.5. Respect other people -- 1.2.6. Hard work and discipline -- 1.2.7. Respect elders: Listening to words of wisdom -- 1.2.8. Generosity -- 1.2.9. Livelihoods: Earning a living -- 1.3. Concluding thoughts -- 1.4. References -- Chapter 2. Exploring the connection between salmon and well-being to strengthen a food system intervention in Western Alaska -- 2.1. Introduction -- 2.2. Background -- 2.2.1. Traditional food systems interventions as a response to nutrition transition -- 2.2.2. Exploring local perceptions of food and well-being to strengthening interventions -- 2.2.3. Food system interventions: Strategies and approaches -- 2.3. Manuscript objectives -- 2.4. Methods -- 2.4.1. Study overview -- 2.4.2. Fisheries-to-School, a food system intervention -- 2.4.3. Geographic context -- 2.4.4. Participant recruitment -- 2.4.5. Phase 1: Exploring perceptions of salmon and well-being -- 2.4.5.1. Data collection -- 2.4.5.2. Data management and analysis -- 2.4.6. Phase 2: Applying local perceptions to intervention design -- 2.4.6.1. Data collection -- 2.4.6.2. Intervention development process -- 2.4.7. Research ethics -- 2.5. Results/Findings -- 2.5.1. Phase 1: Connection between salmon and well-being -- 2.5.1.1. Family -- 2.5.1.2. Traditional life skills -- 2.5.1.3. Neqpik: Real food -- 2.5.1.4. Support local livelihoods -- 2.5.1.5. Pride -- 2.5.1.6. Hard work -- 2.5.1.7. Connection to the environment -- 2.5.1.8. Social connection -- 2.5.1.9. Gratitude -- 2.5.2. Phase 2: Applying the findings to the F2S intervention -- 2.5.2.1. F2S intervention development: A conceptual model -- 2.5.2.2. Refining the F2S intervention -- 2.5.2.2.1. Salmon in the school lunches -- 2.5.2.2.2. Lessons -- 2.5.2.2.3. Community activities and media campaign -- 2.6. Discussion -- 2.6.1. Lessons learned -- 2.6.1.1. Strong academic-community partnership -- 2.6.1.2. Good communication strategies -- 2.6.1.3. Flexible timelines -- 2.6.1.4. Respectful engagement with diverse stakeholders -- 2.6.1.5. Recognition and respect of community priorities -- 2.7. Conclusion/Implication for research -- 2.8. References -- Appendix.
Date
2014-08
Type
Thesis
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