Restoring Food Systems Through Community-Led Mapping

The Geospatial Applied Research Group of Sustainability-Led Integrated Centres of Excellence (SLICE) at Saskatchewan Polytechnic is leading a collaborative project titled Using Geospatial Technologies for Delineating Bioregions and Developing a Thematic Network to Improve Food Security and Socio-Economic Resilience around Hudson Bay. Funded through the UArctic Project Fund for Indigenous and Northern Collaborative Research and Education Engagement, the project brings together applied research, Indigenous knowledge, and community priorities to support long-term resilience across the Hudson Bay and James Bay regions.

At its core, the project is about community ownership, practical outcomes, and shared learning. Through the establishment of a network of local knowledge keepers, Indigenous communities, and environmental and geospatial professionals, the initiative has created space for meaningful collaboration across four provinces and one territory. Partners include the Churchill School Board, University of Manitoba, University College of the North, Université de Montréal, the Government of Nunavut, and Mushkegowuk First Nation. This broad, cross-regional network strengthens relationships while ensuring that research outcomes reflect local realities and diverse perspectives.

A key outcome of the project is the creation of the online StoryMap People of the Bays, which weaves together social, environmental, and scientific knowledge about Hudson Bay and James Bay in an accessible, community-facing format. Designed for educators, local organizations, tourism agencies, and visitors, the StoryMap supports place-based learning, strengthens cultural awareness, and helps share Indigenous and Northern perspectives beyond academic settings. The team has also contributed to broader conversations on justice and sustainability through the publication Restorative Socio-Ecological Justice – Churchill, Northern Manitoba and the Hudson Bay Watershed.

"This is a very good project for Churchill because it really fits with the community...those that will benefit from the completed project include teachers, local organizations, tourism agencies, individual and group travellers, and the further development of business, as well as the objectives of the Churchill Chamber of Commerce. Many feel that the project could again bring the local Indigenous groups together to focus on common goals for a shared future in the form of job training, safely storing traditional Indigenous knowledge, and helping support spatial planning for the restoration of Indigenous food systems in harmony with the expansion of the Port of Churchill. Churchillians are proud of their community, and from the outset, it has been shown how this project will be community-owned – helping us to build a better future for everyone in the community and providing a model for bay-wide development."

Community engagement has been central to the project’s success. Project partner Dr. Paul Watts of the Philippines-based non-governmental organization Daluhay spent eight weeks in Churchill, Manitoba, gathering perspectives from residents and visitors. More than 1,000 individuals shared feedback, underscoring both strong community interest and the relevance of the project to local priorities. As noted by Verna Flett, Councillor for the Town of Churchill, the project aligns closely with community goals, benefiting educators, local organizations, tourism operators, and businesses, while supporting the objectives of the Churchill Chamber of Commerce. Importantly, the project has also helped bring Indigenous groups together around shared goals, including job training, safeguarding traditional knowledge, and supporting spatial planning for the restoration of Indigenous food systems alongside future development such as the expansion of the Port of Churchill.

This project demonstrates the value of applied, community-driven research that delivers tangible benefits while strengthening Northern networks. It shows how institutions can work across regions and disciplines to co-produce knowledge that supports food security, economic development, education, and cultural continuity.