This research article examines the food consumption patterns of three generations of the Cree, Chipewyan and Métis people residing in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta and Fort Smith, N.W.T. The results of this survey show that although the availability of store-bought food has increased in this region, traditional foods from the land such as wild animals, birds, fish and berries still constitute an important part of the food supply in these communities. Survey results show that traditional foods are consumed more than six times a week, with animal flesh (mostly moose and caribou) constituting one-third of the total flesh food consumption. Furthermore, this article shows that the food purchased from northern stores does not compare nutritionally to the traditional foods. These researchers believe that the development of these northern communities is detrimental to the diet of the Aboriginal residents. They are concerned that both the quantity and the quality of traditional foods are at risk due to upstream petroleum and forest industrial development. Although northern development projects may provide some limited/part-time/seasonal employment for the community members, this does not compensate for the loss of such traditional lifestyle activities as trapping, fishing and hunting.