Thursday, Jan 26, 2023
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Lecture by:
Dr. Andrew Spring
Climate change is having negative impacts on global food systems. But as temperature rises and ecosystems shift, we need to consider how we will feed ourselves in this uncertain future. In Canada, we need to understand the diverse and unique food systems across the country, including traditional food systems of northern Indigenous communities. This presentation will detail how northern food systems have been changing over time and continue to change due to climate change. Based on long term research relationships with northern communities, we will explore how climate change adaptation and ongoing work is preserving traditional food systems while exploring how locally growing food can support food security. This work offers insights into how northern communities are finding innovative ways to adapt and transform their food systems and offers lessons for ways forward as we continue to deal with the impacts of climate change globally.
Dr. Andrew Spring is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, Associate Director of the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and Director of Research for the UNESCO Chair in Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies. He has established an extensive research program with Indigenous communities and government partners in the NWT and have been able to build a large and diverse network of communities, local and regional Indigenous governments, territorial and federal government agencies, and academic researchers across the social, health, and natural sciences to address issues of climate change, sustainability, and food security. Dr. Spring did his undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at Acadia University, a Master’s in Environmental Engineering at University of Toronto and his PhD in Geography at Laurier.)
Third Age Learning Kitchener Waterloo