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Holistic Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Associated with the Restoration of Traditional Indigenous Foods, Foodways, and Food Systems in Settler-Colonial Nations: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review Protocol
Working paper - Systematic Review

Holistic Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Associated with the Restoration of Traditional Indigenous Foods, Foodways, and Food Systems in Settler-Colonial Nations: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review Protocol

Tyson Castello, Judith Maher and Lynne Stuart (Mandandanji Woman)
PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews, Vol.21 July 2026, CRD420261450296
University of York, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
2026
url
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261450296View
Published Version Open

Abstract

Indigenous food systems Biocultural restoration Indigenous foodways Traditional food Food sovereignty Holistic health Health and wellbeing Indigenous health Cultural revitalisation
Traditional Indigenous food systems across Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Canada, and the United States were highly sophisticated and interconnected systems prior to colonisation. These systems supported health, nutritional intake, ecological sustainability, and cultural identity. However, colonisation profoundly disrupted these systems through policies such as forced removal, rationing, and assimilation, contributing to ongoing social and health inequities experienced by Indigenous Peoples today. Traditional knowledge relating to traditional foods, foodways, food systems, and associated cultural practices was also disrupted as a result of these policies. In response, the restoration of traditional Indigenous foods, foodways, and food systems has emerged as a potential means of supporting cultural revitalisation, holistic health and wellbeing, food sovereignty, and relationships with Country and place. A growing body of research suggests that restoring traditional Indigenous food systems is linked with numerous positive outcomes, including improved food security, nutrient intake, biomedical health markers, and outcomes extending beyond Western measures of nutrition and health. However, evidence synthesising the food- and nutrition-related holistic health and wellbeing outcomes associated with traditional food system restoration through an Indigenous conceptualisation of holistic health remains limited. This mixed-methods systematic review will synthesise evidence from restoration initiatives across settler-colonial nations to develop a comprehensive understanding of the food- and nutrition-related holistic health and wellbeing outcomes associated with the restoration of traditional Indigenous foods, foodways, or food systems. The findings will inform the direction of future research and Community-led restoration initiatives.

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