Confronting Colonialism in Canadian Dietetics Curricula

Abstract

Many Canadian universities have committed to becoming more accountable to Indigenous Peoples by confronting the systemic, historical, and ongoing colonialism and anti-Indigenous racism that shape their campuses. In this Perspective in Practice piece, we invite the field of dietetics to consider how colonialism has shaped dietetics research, teaching, and practice. We also consider how we might transform the field of dietetics in ways that accept settler responsibility for interrupting racism and colonial harm; support the resurgence of Indigenous food and health practices; and recognise the connections between struggles to ensure that Indigenous Peoples can access culturally appropriate food and health care, and struggles for Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. We do this by reviewing the history of the dietetics field, examining critical responses to existing Indigenisation and decolonisation efforts, and reflecting on recent changes to required dietetics competencies. We argue that curricula in dietetics programmes must teach the history of the colonial food system and equip students to identify and interrupt the individual and institutional colonial dynamics that contribute to the ongoing dispossession of Indigenous Peoples’ lands and food sources and negatively impact Indigenous patients.