David Natcher

• Professor at University of Saskatchewan

The governance of the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus is significant in the Arctic, where environmental changes are occurring at an accelerated pace, intensifying resource dynamics and geopolitical implications. Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving Arctic landscape shaped by the global climate change, melting ice, and resource exploration...

This study presents a modified Institutional Analysis and Development framework for the purposes of analysing and developing policies to address cascading disasters in interconnected water, energy, and food (WEF) sectors. The aim of the framework is to inform how policymakers can synchronize and coordinate cross sectoral and trans-governmental poli...

This paper describes the challenges that were encountered during the collection of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators for water (SDG 6), energy (SDG 7), and food (SDG 2) security in northern Canada. Our findings indicate only 49% of indicator data were publicly available, while 21% had to be calculated using alternative sources or method...

We investigate how information networks influence smallholder farmers’ learning and decisions that lead to the adoption of improved pulse varieties in two Ethiopian villages. Using data from a mixed methods study (snowball sampling, egocentric networks, unstructured interviews, and focus group discussions), we find that farmers with more connection...

Arctic food industries offer promising potential for sustainable economic development; however, no certification system currently exists to assure Arctic origin and unique product qualities. We survey 1,602 Canadian consumers to explore attitudes to sustainability, authenticity, and origin in the context of Arctic foods, and assess their use of sus...

Community-based monitoring (CBM) is a widely used form of scientific data collection in which local community members directly participate in ecosystem research and also help the process by sharing traditional ecological knowledge and local understanding of land and resources. This paper presents a review of the challenges and opportunities associa...

This research was motivated by increased tensions that had arisen within First Nations communities in the Peace River region of Alberta over the selling of country foods and the belief among some that it has incentivized excessive hunting and the abandonment of food-sharing traditions. Our results indicate that rather than having deleterious ecolog...

This study assesses the likely economic impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Saskatchewan’s (a Canadian province) economy in 2030 by building a subnational computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. The approach was based on splitting Canada into two regions: Saskatchewan and the Rest of Ca...

In this paper we present the results from a systematic literature review of subsistence research that was conducted in northern Canada between 1950 and 2019. Our analysis identified trends in subsistence research, including the breadth of research topics, influential scholars and scholarship, and the emergence of research networks. Our results iden...

Objective: Crowding-out effects of tobacco consumption refers to the situation in which tobacco consumption reduces a household's spending on other commodities. In this paper, we test for the crowding-out effects of recreational tobacco consumption on food expenditures among on-reserve Indigenous communities in Canada. Methods: We use data from...

The Montney Play Trend (MPT) is a 1090 km ² region in northeast British Columbia that produces approximately one-third of western Canada’s natural gas output. In response to a proposed expansion of the MPT in 2016, the Government of British Columbia launched a Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment (RSEA) to identify the necessary conditions t...

The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus has emerged as a leading tool for assessing integrated resource management strategies and for monitoring progress towards the WEF-related Sustainable Development Goals. A notable outcome of WEF nexus research has been the calculation of the global WEF Nexus Index, which provides a quantitative ranking of country-le...

Since 1973, 535 specific claims valued at more than $6 billion have been settled between the Government of Canada and First Nations governments for outstanding treaty obligations. Critics of specific land claims point to the absence of statistical evidence that shows a positive impact on First Nations economies and characterize specific claims as a...

In this study we investigate the investment behaviour of the First Nation governments (FNGs) (N=68) in Saskatchewan, Canada. FNGs invest revenues into First Nation-owned businesses or through joint ventures with neighbouring FNGs. We argue that in cases of jointly controlled capital stock through joint ventures between multiple FNGs, it is necessar...

Social relationships are widely recognized in the achievement of competitive advantages and performance in small-scale farms, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. But two questions remain poorly elucidated. What are the specific practices leading to the development of social relationship among small-scale farmers? And what form of social relationshi...

Considerable advancements are being made in containerized agricultural systems in the northern Canada. These systems are proving successful at overcoming the environmental constraints associated with cold climate food production and hold great promise for remote communities that suffer from high rates of food insecurity. However, if new technologie...

A factor that has long complicated the enactment of conservation policies in Canada is that First Nations harvesting data are often missing or incomplete. Consequently conservation policies are based on population estimates that First Nations often regard as excessively precautionary and economically, politically, and racially motivated. We present...

Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models are very popular for analyzing a wide range of policy issues. CGE applications vary from estimating the welfare impact of tax reform and alternative energy policies to the effect of foreign trade reforms, labour markets and employment. CGE models are commonly developed at the country level; however, modif...

Residents of northern Canada experience high rates of water, energy, and food (WEF) insecurity relative to the national average. Historically, WEF systems have been treated independently with little policy or institutional coordination occurring between sectors. This paper presents the results of a WEF nexus analysis for northern Canada. We assess...

First Nations in Canada engage in a form of mixed economic production that includes the complementary integration of subsistence (eg hunting, fishing, gathering, sharing) and wage-earning sectors. The flexibility of mixed economies has long enabled First Nations to optimise the use and allocation of household assets (eg time, labour, income) during...

This special issue is an interdisciplinary collection of papers that explores the many dimensions of Indigenous community-based monitoring (ICBM). The focus is on areas/sites in Canada, and to a lesser extent internationally, where Indigenous peoples have assumed a role in the monitoring of industrial activities. This collection provides the reader...

The Canadian Arctic is a unique food producing region. Much of the food produced in the Canadian Arctic has a strong tie with Indigenous cultures and communities, is produced or harvested in a pristine environment, and features species not commonly consumed in other parts of Canada. Building upon previous work and using data from a survey of Canadi...

In many environmental monitoring and impact assessment processes, Indigenous communities are treated as intellectually homogenous and intracultural variation in environmental knowledge often goes unaccounted for. This not only poses obvious risks to the effectiveness of environmental impact assessments but also gives standing to those who question...

Over the past 3 decades, indigenous guardian programs (also known as indigenous rangers or watchmen) have emerged as an institution for indigenous governments to engage in collaborative environmental governance. Using a systematic review of peer‐reviewed literature for research conducted in Australia, Canada, Aotearoa‐New Zealand, and the United St...

In the Oil Sands Regions of Alberta, Canada, Indigenous reassertion of rights and responsibilities has lead to a renewed leadership in monitoring the effects of industries on various environment receptors. This study, conducted with Cold Lake First Nations, Alberta (CLFN), sought to explore local concerns regarding fish consumption safety and popul...

This paper presents the results of a Cultural Consensus Analysis (CCA) that was conducted to determine the degree to which Indigenous residents of the Peace and Athabasca oil sands regions of Alberta, Canada share cultural knowledge about the associated impacts of oil sands development. We found that 87% (64/75) of respondents believe that oil sand...

This study seeks to gain a better understanding of the implications of Indigenous community-based monitoring (ICBM) for Indigenous governance in resource extractive regions. Using a comprehensive review of the literature and the author team's personal involvement, we review an ICBM program in the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada. We use sustaina...

There is growing recognition that gender diversity within research organizations can result in innovative research outcomes. It has also been recognized that gender homogeneity can undermine the quality and breadth of the research and may allow some to cast doubt on the legitimacy of scientific findings. In this paper, we present the results of a g...

It has been suggested that provincial and national multipliers may provide incorrect estimates of the economic impacts when examining distinct communities. Using data collected from a comprehensive survey of household spending on two First Nations in Saskatchewan, Canada, we use Input-Output models to refine regional multipliers for these distinct...

The food industry increasingly seeks to differentiate food products based on sustainability assurances, the use of traditional or ‘authentic’ production methods, a unique origin, or an association with a distinct cultural identity, often relying on certification to enhance the credibility of a quality claim. The natural conditions of the Arctic cir...

This paper presents the results of the Lower Peace River environmental Livelihoods Assessment that was carried out by the Lubicon Lake, Beaver, tallcree and Little Red River Cree First nations of Alberta Canada. Based on a census of 879 First nation households (94% of all on-reserve households) results indicate that 49% (427/879) of First nation ho...

Across northern Canada community gardens and greenhouses are being used as alternatives to imported foods that are often unaffordable, are of compromised quality, or simply unavailable in local retail outlets. Community gardens and greenhouses are seen as part of the solution to lessen local reliance on costly nutrient-poor market foods imported fr...

The four decades since the Berger Inquiry have produced a large body of research demonstrating the positive and negative impacts of resource development on northern communities. However, little independent research has aimed to yield an understanding of how best to manage the impacts of resource development and to harness its benefits in ways that...

This study assesses the likely economic impact of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Canada's economy in 2030. The analysis was accomplished by building a static Computable General Equilibrium (CGE). And running three simulation scenarios: (i) Baseline scenario; the s...

The research presented in this paper stems from a collaboration between researchers in the Benin Republic, Nigeria and Canada who are examining the opportunities to enhance the sustainable production of under-utilized indigenous vegetables through the micro-dosage of synthetic fertilizer. Because micro-dosing is a labour intensive technology, and i...

Sustaining arctic/subarctic ecosystems and the livelihoods of northern Indigenous peoples is an immense challenge amid increasing resource development. The paper describes a “tragedy of open access” occurring in Canada’s north as governments open up new areas of sensitive barren-ground caribou habitat to mineral resource development. Once numbering...

The relationship between Indigenous subsistence activities and extractive industries has been difficult to conceptualise. For many, the development of extractive industries in lands used by Indigenous peoples has a negative impact on traditional subsistence economies. Yet research on the relationship undertaken since the 1970s has often challenged...

This paper presents the results of research conducted between 2009 and 2014 in the village of Khanda Sharol in the state of Rajasthan, India. Our research objective was to determine how the livelihoods of village residents have been affected by the intensification of forest use, and the resulting loss of domestic access to traditionally used forest...

In 2009, One Earth Farms (OEF) established farming operations on First Nation reserves in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. The partnership that was created with First Nations was seen by some as a new model for Canadian agriculture; one that reduced agribusiness risk while enhancing the economic and social welfare of First Nation communities. Notw...

A large body of research confirms that access to wildlife resources can reduce conditions of food insecurity and health related illness among Aboriginal peoples in Canada and Alaska. Yet the procurement of wildfoods depends on the ability of Aboriginal households to overcome a range of obstacles that impede such access. Utilizing a data set collect...

Various agricultural techniques have been developed as components of food security interventions, but their effectiveness in addressing food insecurity in part depends upon the effectiveness of these techniques in fulfilling farmers’ objectives. This paper presents the results of research that examined the constraints that limit the adoption of mic...

Soil degradation and low crop productivity negatively affect the food security of smallholder farmers in West Africa. Various agricultural techniques have been developed as components of food security interventions, but their effectiveness in addressing food insecurity in part depends upon farmers’ abilities to adopt these techniques. In this paper...

In this article, we present a stark depiction of the growth and decline of a resource-dependent prairie region in southwest Saskatchewan, part of the northern Great Plains. Canada's national development policy at the turn of the 20th century with respect to the region was comprised of immigration incentivized by the Dominion Lands Act which awarded...

Achieving food security in the semi-arid region of West Africa remains challenging, primarily due to a combination of harsh climate and low soil fertility. The University of Saskatchewan, in partnership with many international organizations, has been researching solutions to increase the profitability of smallholder farmers in the region. This join...

Across the Canadian North, resource co-management has become a central institution for the management of natural resources. Although many multidisciplinary studies have examined the various social and political dimensions that influence the effectiveness of resource co-management, little has been done to understand how gender might affect collabora...

This research examined the traditional food system of the Little Red River Cree Nation (LRRCN) of Alberta, Canada. By quantifying the annual wild food harvest and tracing the social networks in which wild foods are shared, the social capital of First Nation members has been made visible, as has the inclusivity and exclusivity of the social networks...

In 2008, the Cowichan Tribes of British Columbia re-established a traditional fishing weir on the Cowichan River. After being banned by the Canadian Government for nearly 70 years, the reintroduction of the Cowichan weir has served to revitalise Cowichan cultural traditions, and after a century of hostility, is creating an opportunity for more coll...

This article analyzes the strategies used by the Girringun Aboriginal Corporation from theWet Tropics, Australia, and the Innu Nation of Labrador, Canada, in their efforts to participate in natural resource management within their traditional lands. Comparative research highlights that both Aboriginal groups engage in strategies of consensus buildi...

Analyses of climate change and the forest sector have identified the importance of individual actors, institutions, and organizations within communities for effective adaption and climate mitigation. Yet, there remains little recognition of how the internal dynamics of these institutions and organizations are influenced by gender and other social c...

In this paper we present the results of interviews conducted with 14 First Nations in Saskatchewan on the ways in which they balance the need for economic development while meeting the social welfare needs of community members. Specific themes include (i) the separation between business and politics; (ii) the existence and role of boards of directo...

This paper provides the first empirical estimate of the local economic impact of publicly funded research expenditures in the Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories of Canada between 2000 and 2009. The total dollar expenditures of northern research during this period was estimated to be $284 million and peaked in 2009 at close to $110 million. U...

Centuries-old community planning practices in Indigenous communities in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia have, in modern times, been eclipsed by ill-suited western approaches, mostly derived from colonial and neo-colonial traditions. Since planning outcomes have failed to reflect the rights and interests of Indigenous people, a...

An inventory of the nominal representation of men and women on northern co-management boards in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut identified a total of 34 co-management boards. Of their total of 210 members, 176 (84%) were males and 34 (16%) were females. Nine boards were composed exclusively of men, and 18 boards had only a single fema...

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the relationship between the political stability of First Nations in Saskatchewan and a number of measures of social and economic well-being. Our results show that among First Nations in Saskatchewan the average term of elected leadership is 4.5 years. Simple descriptive statistics support the basic hypo...

Indigenous communities in the Arctic have become increasingly characterized as "vulnerable" in the context of climate change research. We question the use and application of this term in light of the potential consequences it may bring for indigenous peoples. First, the label "vulnerable" is often generated by those who are more or less unfamiliar...

This paper presents the results of collaborative research conducted in 2007 on the harvest of migratory bird eggs by Inuit households of Nunatsiavut, Labrador. Harvest variability between communities and species is examined, as is the social and ecological factors affecting the 2007 Inuit egg harvest. Representing the first comprehensive account of...

Aboriginal peoples are increasingly being invited to participate in sustainable forest management processes as a means of including their knowledge, values, and concerns. However, it is justifiable to ask if this participation does lead to changes in forest management plans and to outcomes in management activities. We review four forest management...

The 2007 Nunatsiavut Inuit Migratory Bird Harvest Study found that the harvest of migratory birds by Nunatsiavut (Labrador) communities represents an important component of their overall subsistence harvest. During the 2006-07 year, the Nunatsiavut migratory Hid harvest was a reported 5468 birds. Annual harvest estimates at the household, community...

Academic research in Canada involving Aboriginal peoples has changed dramatically during the last 20 years. From an academic researcher’s perspective, the changes have recently become formalised in the release of the 2nd edition of the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethics in Human Research. In this article we examine similarities and differences...

This paper presents the results of policy research to determine the extent to which First Nation cattle producers in Saskatchewan, Canada applied for and received government financial support following the 2003 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease) crisis. Findings indicate a 3% participation rate among First Nation producers compared...