Food security issue raised in 2011: Health

Fort Albany community members laid out a pathway for a healthier community through healthier food during a workshop in January 2011 and concerns about food costs and availability were raised during the Oct. 25-27 Nishnawbe Aski Nation 2011 Food Symposium.
“Fort Albany, like other communities, faces a challenge in getting affordable food, quality food as well as being able to feed our families,” said Gigi Veeraraghavan, a member of Fort Albany’s food security committee during her presentation at the Food Symposium. “Hunting has also become expensive because now we have to go out in our big minivans and boat and motor and go camping.”
Fort Albany volunteers set up a greenhouse provided by the University of Waterloo through a research grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research next to the Peetabeck Academy school with plans to incorporate gardening into the classroom curriculum.
“While we were building the greenhouse, students were asking ‘Who is the greenhouse for?’ and we said ‘The greenhouse is for you!,’” said Joan Metatawabin, school nutrition and greenhouse coordinator. “Everyone is excited to start planting seeds.”
Fort Albany also established a food security committee in January 2011.
“We established it because we were concerned about the availability of affordable food,” Veeraraghavan said. “It’s just impossible to feed a family, especially a large
family.”
Veeraraghavan said traditional foods such as moose, caribou, fish and geese are an important part of the community’s diet, but there are concerns about whether future generations will be able to continue harvesting traditional foods.
The Food Symposium included discussions on maintaining and promoting forest and fresh water food systems, traditional food systems, project planning and community involvement, alternative marketing structures, and building food skills in cultivation and preparation.
“Given the current conditions regarding food shortages and high pricing of food in NAN territory and around the world, NAN continues to assist communities in finding solutions,” said Grand Chief Stan Beardy. “By working to address concerns related to diabetes, childhood obesity, affordability of healthy foods, and the sustainability of traditional food systems, we create a more healthy future for our generations to come.”
Presentations were made on growing food in the North, garden planning, bee keeping, raising chickens and collective harvests with workshops being held on food
preservation.