Two U of G profs will address the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food Feb. 5 about strengthening support for Indigenous peoples in agriculture and agri-food.

Prof. Sheri Longboat, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, and Prof. Hannah Tait Neufeld, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, will address the committee. They will be joined by Stephen Penner, a PhD student in rural studies.

The committee is exploring ways the federal government can help increase participation of Indigenous producers in the agriculture and agri-food industry.

Tait Neufeld studies health inequities and has looked at determinants of food choice and chronic disease prevention among Indigenous women.

Longboat studies water insecurity and other environmental challenges on First Nations, including integrating science, policy and Indigenous knowledge and experience.

Penner looks to build socio-economically resilient Indigenous communities through collaborative approaches.

On Feb. 9, Prof. Jennifer Silver, Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, will appear before the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, which is looking at regulation of west coast fisheries.

Silver will discuss preliminary findings from her study on licensing of commercial fisheries in British Columbia.