IP-STATS

In the pursuit of food systems transformation to realise the right to foods, scientists and decision-makers are challenged by culturally biased categorisations of food systems and Western scientific knowledge “gatekeeping”, which have resulted in a call to amplify underrepresented -but critically important- voices in decision-making and research processes, such as those of Indigenous Peoples. While Indigenous Peoples’ sciences, in all their diversity, depth and vitality, are actively developed by Indigenous practitioners, they are often restricted to qualitative, traditional and historical knowledge in research and policy fora. I will challenge dominant and monolithic conceptions of mathematics and statistics and bring insights from Indigenous quantitative research methodologies by 1) illuminating how evolving Indigenous theoretical frames and standpoints can be enacted in statistical “counter-realities” of Indigenous Peoples’ food systems; and 2) developing, piloting and disseminating a toolkit to foster epistemic diversity in statistical and research cycles for the construction, collection, interpretation and dissemination of quantitative evidence on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems. Research will last five years. During the first two years, I will lead an interdisciplinary and intercultural team who will initiate an Indigenous Peoples’ food systems quantitative research agenda and highlight the shortcomings of existing statistics and quantitative data creation processes. Next, the core team will develop a toolkit to better gather, govern, analyse, manage and use food systems’ quantitative data to support Indigenous Peoples’ food sovereignty and self-determination. During the final two years, we will pilot the tools with Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations in eight countries. This project will develop a truly inclusive landscape of quantitative research on food systems from which scientists may honour and learn through the wisdom of all cultures.