Prince George, B.C.- If the adage, “you are what you eat” is accurate, then Canadians must be going through an identity crisis.

 

Tuesday night, Dr. Marilyn Iwama will be giving a presentation entitled Bannock, Borscht and Sushi: Do These Genes Make Me Look White?   She explores the relationship between food and identity, and the ways in which deciding what goes on the dinner table is being used as a means to define Canadians. She will also be looking at food as a cultural flashpoint and stabilizer. The talk is part of UNBC’s “Anthropology in our Backyards” lecture series.

“In the Canada of 2010, grocery chains stock kim chee and naan next to the perogies and chorizo. We also attend boundary-blurring festivals, such as Gung Haggis Fat Choy Day,” says Dr. Iwama, who has a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies. “Claiming and recognizing ‘our’ food is becoming harder and harder. What havoc have immigration, intermarriage and intercultural adoption wreaked in the kitchen - and does it matter?”

The talk is being sponsored by the Anthropology program of UNBC  in partnership with Books and Co. with the aim of bringing together researchers and the general public in exploring issues relevant to northern British Columbia.

“In an increasingly diverse society with families piecing together various culinary and cultural traditions, deciding what will be served has become increasingly daunting,” says Dr. Iwama. “I suggest that Canadians are not only dining out on our changing society, we are also counting on food to define it.”

The presentation will be held at ArtSpace (1685 - 3rd Avenue) on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 7pm.

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