Exploring the Experiences and Perceptions of African-Canadian Immigrants’ Cultural Food Practices within Waterloo-Wellington Region

Abstract

Cultural food practices are fundamental to health, well-being, and cultural identity of African-Canadian immigrants (ACIs). While ACIs often rely on culturally meaningful foods to maintain identity, community connections, and cultural food security, less is known about the food experiences of ACIs living in mid-sized Canadian cities.This dissertation explored the food experiences and perceptions of first- and second-generation ACIs living in the four major cities within Waterloo-Wellington Region and examined the social, cultural, and environmental factors influencing access to culturally appropriate foods and the maintenance of cultural food practices. Guided by the Oral Traditional Storytelling (AOTS) framework, an Afrocentric qualitative methodology, this dissertation includes a scoping review, storytelling-based semi-structured interviews, and community fireside chats with photo-elicitation. Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) was utilized for Chapter 4 and 6, while Chapter 5 employed Thematic Narrative Analysis (TNA). Findings form the scoping review (Chapter 3) showed that Sub-Saharan African immigrants face interconnected nutritional, cultural, and social challenges that affect belonging and cultural food practices. In Chapter 4 first-generation ACIs described migration as both challenging and transformative. They navigated barriers such as unfamiliar food environments, limited access and availability of culturally appropriate foods, and transportation challenges while simultaneously exercising agency over their food environment. Chapter 5 found that second-generation ACIs negotiated cultural identity through food, faith, community, and meaningful connections to their heritage. Chapter 6 showed that across generations, participants demonstrated resilience by using adaptive strategies to sustain culturally meaningful diets. Overall, this dissertation highlights the importance of cultural food security and food sovereignty as a critical component of immigrant health and well-being and supports policies and programs that improve equitable access to culturally appropriate foods in mid-sized Canadian communities.