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Introduction
Traditional food was central to Aboriginal cultures and diet. The shift to more commercial foods has been rapid, along with growing concerns about contaminants and the depletion of wild food sources. Many Aboriginal groups are now experiencing significantly higher levels of nutrition-related health problems than other Canadians. Read here about nutrition programs in Aboriginal communities, find out about the health issues at stake, and access related resources.
Traditional Foods
In the past, the traditional diet of Aboriginal peoples consisted of foods that they could harvest and gather from the land and water around them, including fish, marine mammals, wild meat, and plants (BC Ministry of Health, 2002). Central to their culture and way of life, traditional foods were highly nutritious and sustained Aboriginal peoples successfully for generations (Doran, 2004).
In the post-contact era, traditional food use diminished as a result of relocation into settlements, decreased access to land, depletion of game, concern for environmental contaminants, food insecurity, less time and energy and fewer skills for harvesting, as well as costs of, or restriction on, hunting (Doran, 2004). Today, most Aboriginal people eat a mix of traditional and store-bought foods.
Healthy Eating and Aboriginal Health Status
The shift from traditional foods to store-bought foods high in fat, sugar and starch has compromised the nutritional well-being of many Aboriginal peoples. Recent survey data indicates a significant proportion of First Nations adults are considered overweight (37%) or obese (30%), while one-third of First Nations children and youth are considered overweight (First Nations Centre, 2005).
Other nutrition related health problems include anemia, dental caries, heart disease and a rate of diabetes among Aboriginal adults that is three to five times higher than that of the general population (Willows, 2005).
Benefits of Healthy Eating
Healthy eating plays a fundamental role in human health and development from the prenatal and early childhood years to adulthood and later life stages. It can reduce the risk of heart disease, some cancers, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, dental diseases, illness and infections (WHO, 2003). Healthy eating can also improve digestion, sleep, energy levels, self-image, concentration and performance at school or work.
Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide: First Nations, Inuit and Métis recommends enjoying a variety of foods daily from each food group (vegetables and fruit, grain products, milk and alternatives, meat and alternatives) (Health Canada, 2007). Traditional foods are excellent dietary choices. If you eat store-bought foods, it is important to choose foods low in fat, trans fat, salt and sugars.
Resources
For a Fact Sheet on Nutrition, click here.
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ActNow BC
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Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program
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Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment (CINE)
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Métis Cookbook and Guide to Healthy Living
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Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide: First Nations, Inuit and Métis
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Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon
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Honour Your Health Challenge
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National Aboriginal Diabetes Association
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Nuxalk Food and Nutrition Handbook: A Practical Guide to Family Foods and Nutrition Using Native Foods.
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Nunavut Food Guide
References
BC Ministry of Health (2002). The Health and Well-being of Aboriginal People in British Columbia, 2001. Victoria: BC Ministry of Health, Provincial Health Officer’s Annual Report.
Doran, Lori (2004). Voices from the Field: The First Nations and Inuit Perspective on Nutrition. Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development.
First Nations Centre, NAHO (2005). First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS) 2002/03. Ottawa, NAHO.
Health Canada (2007). Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide: First Nations Inuit and Métis. Ottawa, Health Canada.
Willows, Noreen (2005). Determinants of Healthy Eating in Aboriginal Peoples in Canada: The Current State of Knowledge and Research Gaps. Canadian Journal of Public Health 96(3): S32-S36
World Health Organization (2003). Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Report of a Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation. Geneva: WHO.
Links
Programs and services that support healthy living through good diet and adequate nutrition include some of the following:
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The Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative seeks to increase awareness of diabetes issues, including the role of healthy eating and active living behaviours among First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Organizations and communities can apply for funding to support projects; several agencies in BC have done so (inlcuding the Vancouver Native Health Society and the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society in Kelowna). For fact sheets related to diabetes prevention and management that include pointers on active living and healthy eating, click here and here.
- Action Schools! BC provides active living and healthy eating support for children in more than three dozen First Nations Schools throughout the province in addition to servicing public elementary schools. One of Action Schools! BC's goals is to increase awareness and consumption of vegetables and fruit.
- First Nations Community Food Systems for Healthy Living provides provincial funding through ActNow BC. About a dozen First Nations communities were assisted in 2005 in developing community gardens that helped support training and capacity building, food production, and food processing. Additional bands have joined the program since then, with another dozen First Nations developing community food system plans in 2007/08.
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HeartSmart Kids™ 4-6 Aboriginal program incorporates the cultural values of BC's Aboriginal peole while stressing the importance of eating well, being active, and living smoke-free.
- BC Health Authorities each offer programs geared to the specific health needs of Aboriginal communities in their jurisdiction. The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority operates the Aboriginal Health Initiative Program supporting 30 projects in 2006/07 geared to issues such as chronic or infectious diseases and local community food security. The Vancouver Island Health Authority provides services to First Nations communities on the Lower Island and to the Urban Aboriginal population, including walking programs, healthy lunch programs, and resource support on diabetes prevention and management support. The Northern Health Authority has established Aboriginal Health Initiatives, and is currently developing an Aboriginal Health Plan.
- The Community Action Program for Children is jointly managed by federal, provincial, territorial and Aboriginal organizations. It aims to improve early childhood experiences for young children at risk. Activities inlcude preparing and eating nutritional snacks and meals as well as healthy physical activity for parents and children.
- Friendship Centres offer a variety of programs, some of which emphasize wellness of children and families. For instance, the Kermode Friendship Centre provides a Family Skills Program to families that help them make positive lifestyle changes impacting their own and their children's future. The Prince Rupert Friendship House offers the Aama Goot Aboriginal Women's Wellness Program supporting a healthy lifestyle for women.
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