Food & Nutrition

Traditional forms of hunting and fishing have been replaced by increasing dependency on food supplied from the south. However, the cost of shipping to northern communities means paying high prices, even for the most basic food items. For example, bananas can cost as much as $5.39 per kg., oranges $11.19 per kg., apples $9.39 per kg., and a 4 litre bag of milk $14.00. As a result, diets have become more and more unhealthy. This has led to a major rise in diabetes, obesity, dental caries and other health problems in First Nations communities. (Feathers of Hope : A First Nations Youth Action Plan (Provincial Advocate for Children & Youth) Ontario; 2014)

The 2012 APS defines food insecurity as situations when food that was purchased does not last, there is not enough money to buy more, when a household cannot afford to eat balanced meals, or when household members cut the size of their meals or skip meals because there is not enough money for food. Research has established that when an individual is food insecure, they are at risk for a number of health issues including chronic conditions, poor mental health, and restricted mobility (Tarasuk 2009). In 2012, household food insecurity was disproportionately experienced by First Nations people (compared with the total Canadian population). Being food insecure significantly increased the likelihood of having poorer health outcomes. In 2012, one in five (20%) First Nations people aged 15 and older living off reserve experienced household food insecurity. This is compared with 8% of the total population of Canada (CCHS 2012). After controlling for various factors, off-reserve First Nations people aged 15 and older who experienced household food insecurity in the previous 12 months were significantly more likely than those who were food secure to report any of the three negative health outcomes. These findings align with other Aboriginal-focused research which explain that even when factors such as age, gender and education are accounted for, Aboriginal people living in food-insecure households have significantly higher odds of poor general health, high stress, and life dissatisfaction (Willows et al. 2011). (Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2012, Social Determinants of Health for the off-reserve First Nations population, 15 years of age and older, Christine Rotenberg; Released April 12, 2016, Statistics Canada)

In a Cree community of Fort Severn, Ontario, for example, two thirds of households experienced food insecurity in 2002. A 1997 study in the northern communities of Repulse Bay and Pond Inlet found about 50% of each community's families reported not having enough to eat in the past 30 days. (Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts, Juha Mikkonen & Dennis Raphael, 2010, Toronto: York University School of Health Policy & Management: PDF)

Traditional forms of hunting and fishing have been replaced by increasing dependency on food supplied from the south. However, the cost of shipping to northern communities means paying high prices, even for the most basic food items. For example, bananas can cost as much as $5.39 per kg., oranges $11.19 per kg., apples $9.39 per kg., and a 4 litre bag of milk $14.00. As a result, diets have become more and more unhealthy. This has led to a major rise in diabetes, obesity, dental caries and other health problems in First Nations communities. (Feathers of Hope : A First Nations Youth Action Plan (Provincial Advocate for Children & Youth) Ontario; 2014)

The 2012 APS defines food insecurity as situations when food that was purchased does not last, there is not enough money to buy more, when a household cannot afford to eat balanced meals, or when household members cut the size of their meals or skip meals because there is not enough money for food. Research has established that when an individual is food insecure, they are at risk for a number of health issues including chronic conditions, poor mental health, and restricted mobility (Tarasuk 2009). In 2012, household food insecurity was disproportionately experienced by First Nations people (compared with the total Canadian population). Being food insecure significantly increased the likelihood of having poorer health outcomes. In 2012, one in five (20%) First Nations people aged 15 and older living off reserve experienced household food insecurity. This is compared with 8% of the total population of Canada (CCHS 2012). After controlling for various factors, off-reserve First Nations people aged 15 and older who experienced household food insecurity in the previous 12 months were significantly more likely than those who were food secure to report any of the three negative health outcomes. These findings align with other Aboriginal-focused research which explain that even when factors such as age, gender and education are accounted for, Aboriginal people living in food-insecure households have significantly higher odds of poor general health, high stress, and life dissatisfaction (Willows et al. 2011). (Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2012, Social Determinants of Health for the off-reserve First Nations population, 15 years of age and older, Christine Rotenberg; Released April 12, 2016, Statistics Canada)