Arctic Food Forum

Day 1, 29/9

09:30 Optional event
– Visit the forest and learn about and forage for local foods
11:45 Mingle lunch
12:45 Welcome
- Welcome address and keynotes 1 and 2
14:00 Workshops, part 1
- The workshops will follow the themes. We discuss and make plan for meals. Details will be provided later.
17:00 Dinner

Day 2, 30/9

9:00 Keynote 3 and 4
10:00 Workshops, part 2
- Prepare meals which will feed into lunch.
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Presentations of workshop findings and panel discussion
– With guests from Canada and Australia.
16:00 Formal ending of the Forum
16:30 Optional social gatherings:
– Exchange between Indigenous guests sharing visions from three continents
–Visit at the Forest and Sámi museum

Dr. Adrianne Lickers Xavier

Assistant Professor in Indigenous Studies, McMaster University, Canada

Doctor Adrianne Xavier's research interests include Indigenous food security, Indigenous land connections and rematriation, Indigenous food ways, and Indigenous ways of knowing. She teaches in the areas of Contemporary Indigenous Issues, Indigenous Food Security and Food Systems, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Methodologies. Her community is the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, where she works to grow the understanding and capacity around food security and sovereignty. She is the newest lead of the Indigenous Mentorship Network for Ontario focusing on the support of students, faculty and Indigenous research in the broad spectrum of Indigenous Health.
More about Adrianne Xavier

Prof. Laure Saulais

Professor at the Department of Agri-Food Economics and Consumer Sciences, Laval University, Canada

Professor Laure Saulais oversees graduate programs in Consumer Science and specializes in behavioral economics and consumer sciences. She is also a researcher at the Centre Interuniversitaire en Analyse des Organisations (CIRANO) and the NUTRISS Research Center within the Institute for Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF). Her research explores the demand-side perspective of food system sustainability with the aim of supporting the transition towards more sustainable food consumption models. Her current projects focus on food procurement decision-making within institutional foodservice, and on the roles of food sustainability literacy and information on individual consumers’ food choices.
More about Laurie Saulais

Aunty Patricia Ellis, OAM

Business Enterprise Owner/Operator, Minga Aboriginal Cultural Services.

Patricia Ann Ellis, OAM, is a Brinja Yuin and Walbunja elder and cultural knowledge holder, recognised for her extensive contributions to the Indigenous community. Awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2023, she has received multiple accolades for Aboriginal cultural promotion, advocacy and leadership. Patricia runs Minga Aboriginal Cultural Services, offering cultural experiences and education. With 41 years at New South Wales' Technical and Further Education (TAFE NSW), she has significantly advanced Aboriginal language learning and cultural awareness.

Patricia's roles include leadership positions in local and national Aboriginal organisations, consultant to local, state and national government on Aboriginal issues, she chaired the Eurobodalla Shire Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee, and was joint management coordinator of the handback of two National Parks to Aboriginal ownership.

Tricia is a published author, lifelong community advocate, proud mother and grandmother, held in the highest regard by Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals, organisations and public authorities as a cultural knowledge holder.
Patricia, on being awarded the OAM 
Minga Aboriginal Cultural Services