miyo mîciwin – miyo mâcihowin:

Indigenous peoples and food in Canada

By Jeff Baker, PhD

In June of 2015 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) released its 94 Calls to Action , which seek to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance processes of reconciliation in Canada. As implied in the deliberate naming of the TRC, ‘truth’ must come before ‘reconciliation’ – that is, before we can heal relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, there must be shared understandings of the realities and ongoing impacts of what happened in residential schools, as well as the impacts of other colonial policies and practices designed to control and oppress Indigenous peoples (e.g., The Indian Act (1876); Sixties Scoop , Scrip , etc.). So then, what is the truth of the impact these policies and practices have had on Indigenous peoples’ diets and health?

The truth is that the introduction of nutrient-deficient, processed Western foods has had significant and deleterious effects on Indigenous peoples in Canada, and around the world. These include the introduction of tooth decay, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and obesity, among others (Mosby & Galloway, 2017; Schmidt, 1967). Physical changes in jaw and dental structures, facial features, and height have also been documented (Schmidt, 1967). One need only imagine the impact that shifting from a diet of nutrient-rich wild meats, plants, berries and nuts harvested from the land to one based on the nutrient-poor provisions provided through Treaty (i.e., lard, refined sugar, and white flour) would have on personal health, regardless of one’s ancestry.

These colonial policies and practices also limited economic opportunities for Indigenous communities, the impacts of which continue to be felt today.

Image source: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sixties-scoop

With rising prices of food and gasoline, a healthy diet is simply out of reach for many people, especially those living in remote and underserved communities, or urban food deserts. Finally, we must also address the history of malnutrition and starvation Indigenous peoples’ have been subjected to in Canada, including the inadequate foods provided in Residential Schools, the use of starvation as a manipulation tactic, and the nutrition and starvation experiments that were conducted on Indigenous children (Bryce, 1922; MacDonald et al., 2014; Wilk et al., 2017).

Without question, the colonial treatment of Indigenous peoples in Canada has been undeniably bleak. While many challenges remain today, all hope is not lost – people do not survive over a century of oppression without possessing remarkable skills, abilities and a strong desire to survive and heal. Many Indigenous Nations have responded to these realities by pursuing food sovereignty programs, regaining control of their food systems by developing relevant skills and capacities, and engaging with community members and other experts to revive traditional food practices and explore innovative ways to provide healthier, whole, locally produced foods that will support the healing of their citizens.

Image source: https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/spotlight/mistawasis-nehiyawak-acquires-demonstration-scale-aquaponics-facility-7368409

Within Saskatchewan alone, many such initiatives have been launched. The Nation of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak, for example, has been pursuing community gardens, a greenhouse, an aquaponics facility, cooking and food preservation classes, wild harvesting workshops, and have also begun the process of bringing buffalo back to their lands. In a significant and groundbreaking project, Mistawasis partnered with Muskeg Lake Cree Nation on the only Indigenous-led Living Labs program in Canada, entitled Bridge to Land Water Sky, which brings together agricultural producers, scientists, and other stakeholders to co-develop and test innovative solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering carbon. Muskeg Lake has also planted a thriving 2.5-acre food forest to increase food security in their community. Meanwhile, Flying Dust First Nation has established a successful organic garden and market program, and Cowessess First Nation and Ahtahkakoop First Nation have also made significant strides in providing healthier foods to their citizens.

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It is important to note that these activities do more than simply provide healthy food; they also provide jobs, create training opportunities, build relationships among citizens, external partners, and the land; and can strengthen and enhance personal cultural identities and self-esteem, all of which contribute to holistic healing and wellness for many beyond those who consume the food being produced. In Mistawasis, this is expressed simply in the Cree phrase miyo micisowin – miyo macihowin, good food – good health. While the colonial causes of contemporary Indigenous health inequities are complex, the solutions need not be.

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References:

Bryce, P.H. (1922). The story of a national crime: Record of the Health Conditions of the Indians of Canada from 1904 to 1922. Retreived from: https://definingmomentscanada.ca/bryce100/the-story-of-a-national-crime-text/

MacDonald, N.E., Stanwick, R. & Lynk, A. (2014). Canada’s shameful history of nutrition research on residential school children: The need for strong medical ethics in Aboriginal health research. Canadian Pediatric Society, 19(2), 64.

Wilk, P., Maltby, A., & Cooke, M. (2017). Residential schools and the effects on Indigenous health and well-being in Canada—a scoping review. Public health reviews, 38, 1-23.

About the Author:

Jeff Baker, PhD

Education & Knowledge Mobilization Lead

Dr. Baker (Jeff) is a Métis educator and scholar who employs participatory and Indigenous methodologies to explore the transformative possibilities that exist at the intersection of Indigenous and Western scientific ways of knowing. Prior to joining TRI, Jeff held the position of Chair in Indigenous Education at the University of Saskatchewan and also worked for the Cree community of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak as a Senior Policy Analyst and Indigenous Food Sovereignty Specialist. Jeff’s work balances issues of equity with those of sustainability, and is largely informed by his diverse ancestry and wealth of experience living and working in cross-cultural contexts within Canada and abroad. Jeff was born in Uranium City, SK, and currently resides in the village of Marcelin, SK.