ARIANE LAFORTUNE
Ariane is a dietitian and research coordinator for the FEHNCY project, an interdisciplinary study that aims to assess the nutrition, health and environments of First Nations children and youth living on-reserve in Canada. Ariane was quickly drawn to this project, as her Master's degree at CIENS allowed her to examine the links between diet quality and type 2 diabetes in First Nations adults living on-reserve in Canada, using data from the FNFNES project - one of the precursor studies to FEHNCY. Previously, during her undergraduate degree at the Université de Montréal, Ariane completed a research internship on the A3PN project in Haiti, which focused on maternal and child health. These experiences confirmed her interests in food systems, nutrition transition and food security. As a health professional, Ariane is driven by health equity, social justice and the environment.
Ariane has also been involved in communication projects about traditional foods with some First Nations in Quebec. Through these collaborations, she appreciates the integration of Western and Indigenous knowledge, as it leads to learning from different perspectives and making the best of it for the benefit of all. For the Nalliriik project – cultural safety awareness videos for students in health programs – produced with her colleague Mélanie Alasie Napartuk, Ariane was co-recipient of the Einrika Siguineau Award for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion from the Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec (2022) and the Carsley-Rouleau Award for Social Commitment from the Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal (2021). Outside of her academic pursuits, Ariane enjoys taking time to see her loved ones, cook, play outdoor sports, and make art.
