Photo by Vince Fedoroff
FOOD FOR THOUGHT – Shadelle Chambers, the executive director of the Council of Yukon First Nations, and grand chief Peter Johnston discuss the planned food program during Wednesday’s news conference in Whitehorse.
First Nations to participate in hot meals program
First Nations children and youth will have access to a new hot meal program in their schools, the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) announced Wednesday.
First Nations children and youth will have access to a new hot meal program in their schools, the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) announced Wednesday.
The new initiative is the result of $4.4 million in federal funding through Jordan’s Principle. The money will be divided based on the number of children up to 18 years old in each community.
The participating communities are the Liard First Nation, Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation, Vuntut Gwitchin government, Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Ross River Dene Council, Selkirk First Nation, First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, Kluane First Nation, White River First Nation, Champagne and Aishihik First Nation and the Teslin Tlingit Council.
Peter Johnston, the CYFN’s grand chief, and Shadelle Chambers, its executive director, presented the initiative at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.
Johnston said there are some challenges to First Nations in the territory.
Many children are going to school unprepared. Some are suffering and have trouble with day-to-day living.
The CYFN has reached out to the communities. Johnston said food security is an issue, which mean nutritious meals can be a problem.
He pointed out that in Old Crow, the price difference between an apple and a can of pop can be “alarming”.
“A lot of families now are being forced into this reality where they are not getting the super-nutritious food,” Johnston said. “They choose the cheaper options because they have to financially.”
He added that it can be hard to get out on the land and live a traditional lifestyle. He said the results are observable all over the world with the food epidemics and cases or diabetes. He said this is due to the prevalence of processed foods.
The traditional diet is meat and fish, Johnston pointed out.
“That rich diet of fats and protein is what our bodies desire, let alone need on a daily basis, but now we’re forced to eat processed foods,” Johnston said.
He is thankful for the help to rectify this issue. He said the $4.4 million will be used to purchase and prepare traditional food for schools.
“It’s more than just food, it’s about helping and support building community,” Johnston said.
Chambers said the money will ensure that every Yukon First Nations community has a nutritional food program. Both youth and children will have access to two hot meals a day during the school week. There will also be weekend initiatives.
The funding will go directly to the First Nations. The CYFN has been able to hire two food co-ordinators to help each First Nation develop and implement its program.
The $4.4 million will cover the cost of the program for the remainder of this school year, which will end in June 2020. The money will cover the costs of the food itself as well as to pay cooks and for kitchen supplies.
There is a provision for training, Chambers added. This will cover preparing a menu, incorporating traditional food and shipping.
Chambers said the CYFN is looking to ensure that this is an entrenched program that is available and led by Yukon First Nations.
This also represents an economic opportunity. She explained that many First Nations citizens own food stores, and this will help those businesses. The co-ordinators will be working with food distributors.
They plan to work with farmers and local food producers once in season, Chambers added.
She hopes it will be a permanent program with funding, but this will have to wait until the federal government defines the parameters of Jordan’s Principle.
“We are still anticipating that this will become a fully-funded program,” Chambers said.
Some communities already have their own food program, she noted, and this funding should help those communities enhance their services. She added it would help sustain existing programs.
There are provisions to help fund traditional hunting.
Fresh food is not always available in northern and remote communities, Chambers pointed out. The costs of food can be very high.
The next phase is working on the urban Yukon First Nations, which will be more complex due to the number of schools.
The CYFN will be working with First Nations to develop the urban plan as well.
Dr. Brendan Hanley, the Yukon’s chief medical officer, supports the plan.
“Food insecurity is an urgent public health challenge in Canada that disproportionately affects First Nations peoples,” he said.
“Canada is the only country in the 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) without a national school food program.”
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Comments (31)
Up 4 Down 2
problem solved on Nov 27, 2019 at 1:56 am
Dave thank you, this is the truest answer to the most complex problem. Mahsi cho!
Up 2 Down 3
Fran on Nov 26, 2019 at 11:54 pm
Listen, do we dare eat a lunch without the Yukon imploding? We're damned if we do, damned if we don't. We can't do anything without it being an ordeal. Jesus. If having lunch was happening in your church we wouldn't hear a peep.
Up 17 Down 0
Responsible spending on Nov 26, 2019 at 8:25 pm
On the surface it appears to be an ideal and needed program. One would wish it was available for all schools. But one also has to do the math on this. 4.4 million dollars for the rural schools to supply a traditional type food for lunches. When checking on school enrolment there is just over 1000 students total. That’s elementary and secondary. That’s approx $4400 per student. And this in addition to some existing food programs that are already in place. I hope for this the students get a proper nutritional meal. As usual the details are vague and accountability is low.
Up 5 Down 6
Groucho d'North on Nov 26, 2019 at 1:19 pm
Why does race have to play such a large part of a positive announcement like this one? Undernourished kids will be getting the food they need to be healthier and hopefully learn better while attending school.
I suspect the race card gets highlighted because of how our governments distribute money out of budgets devoted to various ministries. DIAND, Reconcilliation, and a number of other government purses are used in order for the politcians to beat their chests and say how much they have "invested" to this and that, forget about measuring the results of their distribution of public funds, real data is often too difficult to spin for a favourable press announcement.
Federal and provincial/territorial governments are obliged to care for all people whatever their race or origin, whereas first nation governments are responsible for the members of their governments with some help from the other governments for some things as well.
The way I see it a dollar is a dollar and if positive things are being done with them - so be it.
Up 30 Down 6
Obi on Nov 24, 2019 at 1:42 am
Two comments were made in this presentation. “The funding will go directly to the First Nations”, and “but now we are forced to eat processed foods”.
I think it is sad, and alarming that indigenous people no longer can live a traditional life style. Has our animal population decreased that much? Or have indigenous people lost the ability to hunt and fish?
And to say, that “we are now forced to eat processed foods” suggests someone is to blame for this fact....
Food for needy children is a great program, and I look forward to it helping ALL children in our communities.
Up 25 Down 5
Groucho d'North on Nov 23, 2019 at 3:23 pm
@Obi,
We are still allowed to have opinions - we're just not allowed to share them with everyone.
Up 25 Down 3
moe on Nov 23, 2019 at 1:57 pm
Well it sounds like the FN in Pelly and Old Crow are in fact feeding all the kids according to what some people are posting here, including white kids, so lighten up.
PS - I know there are white kids who's parents are not feeding them right, and I'm talking in Whitehorse. This program should be extended to all 'communities'.
We have money right left and center for dysfunctional adults from the 'center of hope', addictions centers, courts, emergency room, etc. not to mention the cost of diabetes and heart disease etc. Maybe some of those people wouldn't have ended up there if they had better childhoods, including healthy meals on a regular basis.
Investing in kids is never a waste of money. It's what we are supposed to do. It is a good use of our money. The parents who are taking good care of their kids aren't going to stop doing that just because there's a stop gap measure in the schools taking care of children who don't have breakfast or lunch happening at home. If some 'take advantage of it' even though they don't need it, so be it. It's probably their tax money paying for it, and it's just less money available for a 90 million dollar transmission line to a mine in Keno, paid for by the tax payer. The money is going to get blown, at least direct it in better directions.
Up 4 Down 22
Jay on Nov 23, 2019 at 2:49 am
Shant first nations be the least of our problems. Within the "leadership" works of Trump and Brexit in the horizon. Fascinating isn't it? And we should tell "them" to pull themselves together, over a simple lunch dish.
Up 7 Down 7
Chip on Nov 23, 2019 at 2:12 am
Please give us some more names Dave. And do advocate for them,
someone's got to right? What a hero /s.
Up 23 Down 13
My opinion on Nov 22, 2019 at 11:44 pm
It says, this funding will help finance traditional hunting”
There won’t be much for fish and moose left after this. Good lord.
So much SJW Virtue Signalling. Endless. What a Joke.
Up 46 Down 24
My Opinion on Nov 22, 2019 at 11:31 pm
So free education, free housing. Free meals. So why work?
I guess I was a fool to work 12 hours a day my whole life to be able to provide for my small family of three because that was what I could afford.
I am so done with this reverse discrimination and White bashing. Is there anything else that is my fault????
Up 34 Down 9
Dave on Nov 22, 2019 at 7:55 pm
if This program is funded by the feds it should include all kids. If it is funded by FNs it should include all kids. Inclusiveness is important. In the small community I live in, nobody goes hungry.
What is needed, as much as the food, is a program that involves both kids, parents and teaches healthy eating habits.
Up 19 Down 20
Jonathan Colby on Nov 22, 2019 at 7:12 pm
Al,
As it is many days in Pelly Crossing, the Link building hosts lunch for anyone in the community.
Anyone, and I mean ANYONE, who makes complaints about the greedy, miserly, or otherwise exclusionary behaviour of First Nations is showing their own ignorance of how things are.
Dave, be better.
Up 28 Down 1
drum on Nov 22, 2019 at 6:27 pm
When my child went to school in Whitehorse many children did not have breakfast or lunch supplied by their parents. It was not a racism issue - many were white. All children have to be nourished. If the schools have to step in so be it. I know that many teachers brought food and paid for it themselves to that their pupils did not go hungry.
Up 10 Down 11
B. A. Little-Kinder on Nov 22, 2019 at 5:20 pm
At - Not racism Dave - Really... Impressionistic data is your evidence? Do you have some strong feelings you want to share on the matter too?
Do you have some numbers, facts or even a study summary to show us?
Don’t dismiss other people unless you know. Ignorance should disseminated even when it is assumed to counter ignorance.
Up 19 Down 4
Obi on Nov 22, 2019 at 4:42 pm
Please tell me when a newspaper becomes the official defining authority of what is free speech. I always thought Canada and our charter of rights and freedoms allowed us to have an opinion. I guess we should amend the charter to read “Regulated free speech.” As Orwell said, some are more equal than others.
Up 7 Down 5
Oya on Nov 22, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Juniper, you are always the voice of reason in my books.
Up 35 Down 6
Yukoner on Nov 22, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Here's a thought to try and integrate rather than delineate.
Why can't CYFN make a stand and say this program is for all children, First Nations or not. Take the high road and say that a First Nation group can be a leader to both groups.
The Yukon government (non-First Nations) dolls out endless funding for programs that include both FN and non FN. Why can't CYFN also reciprocate and include non FA from the onset?
I'm not attacking anyone, and I truly believe children need a program like this, predominantly FN children... but until FN Governments start preaching inclusion for all, how can they expect other governments and organizations to keep doing the same?
Up 50 Down 8
Al on Nov 22, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Yes, we had a wonderful hot lunch in Old Crow today. Non first nation students, teachers, staff - everybody ate together. Almost all the food was gone, I'd call that a success!
Up 43 Down 6
Juniper Jackson on Nov 22, 2019 at 2:48 pm
I think this is a good idea. All schools should have kitchens and offer breakfast eats, lunch eats. It doesn't have to be a big deal. Soup and sandwich. When I was in school, albeit, a long long time ago, there was fruit, muffins, milk available in the morning, a hot lunch. I remember it being something like 35 cents, (I said it was a long time ago) There were a couple of kids that had a kind of a ticket that they got from the teachers, and they ate for that ticket. I imagine the teachers had a good idea of who needed a meal.
ALL kids should always have access to food. You think someone living in a real nice house, driving a nice car..would have plenty of food. But, no one knows what goes on inside a family, but that family, and if that kid doesn't have enough to eat..he'/she's not telling. Just feed everyone that wants food and get off the white privilege bulls*hit.. and drop the judgmental attitudes.. I don't support many adult programs.. but children are our everything, it is incumbent on adults to make sure they have everything.. EVERYTHING they need to survive and thrive. I feel very strongly about children.. all of them..
Up 32 Down 6
Groucho d'North on Nov 22, 2019 at 2:35 pm
Excellent news! I am fully supportive of this new program. Far too many kids are going to school hungry and without a lunch. This program should help these students in a major way. Now, what's to be done to ensure they're getting enough sleep at night and their homework is completed?
Up 56 Down 5
The Who - I can see for miles and miles... on Nov 22, 2019 at 2:24 pm
How about we actually get “inclusive” and just feed hungry children and then hungry people... Why do they have to be blue, orange or yellow to get fed by someone of their corresponding colour? That is not diversity it is what used to be segregation and in reality, it still is, while perceptually we are going call it something like - Affirmation. WTF is wrong with “Ewe-people”!
Up 25 Down 13
My Two Cents on Nov 22, 2019 at 1:42 pm
It is noted in the article that the participating communities are the First Nation communities. The ‘communities’ are not listed as Haines Junction, Mayo, etc. Note that Faro is the only community that does not have a First Nation. However, Peter Johnston said that the money will be used to purchase and prepare traditional food for schools. This sounds like a wonderful and necessary program. I cannot imagine and do not think that his intention is to exclude the children that do not qualify as First Nation. That would be divisive and discriminatory to those children left out. In some of the communities there are just a handful of children who are not indigenous. Having said that, what about a ‘community’ such as Dawson City that has many more children who would not quality. I know that if my grandchild (who would qualify) was provided food and her friend was not allowed any, my grandchild would not want to participate is this school food program.
Up 27 Down 9
bickering on Nov 22, 2019 at 1:38 pm
While the comments posted are a sort of bickering, it shouldn't matter your heritage to be outraged at the last paragraph in the article:
“Canada is the only country in the 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) without a national school food program.”
Let that sink in for a minute, god knows we get taxed enough that some funds could be allocated towards a national school food program.
Up 55 Down 21
Dave on Nov 22, 2019 at 12:16 pm
Did some of you commenting here even bother to read the story? The very first sentence specifically says ‘First Nations children and youth’, it doesn’t say all children in need in the community.
Applying the racism test to this program, if a program of this type was announced for non natives the howls of indignation across the country would be never ending so yes this program is completely and totally about offering one race of people a service other races don’t receive.
As to the troll talking about white privilege, those white people you disparage are paying 4.4 million tax dollars for this program.
Up 28 Down 30
Jonathan Colby on Nov 22, 2019 at 8:39 am
No Dave
It means that, children belonging to a First Nation will have access to programs offered by that First Nation.
I expect, with this totally real outrage you are expressing, that you are a vocal advocate for warm meals in schools and have organized and lobbied to see that materialize, right?
It would be a shame if your concerns along racial fault lines is really just an artifact of your desire to be outraged, and it would only take a light mapping of the program to dissolve your inflammatory POV... right?
Up 36 Down 11
Not racism Dave on Nov 22, 2019 at 12:57 am
Don't make this about racism, Dave. I know first hand that many of the students coming without adequate food are FN. Start there. If others who are not FN need it, I'm sure they won't be turned away. Old Crow and other communities really need this. If there are issues at home, childrens/teens should not have to suffer and everybody learns better when they have eaten enough to be nourished.
Up 18 Down 37
Miles Epanhauser on Nov 21, 2019 at 8:32 pm
Dave, I support this program which I am guessing is focused on First Nation children and youth.
If other children are left out the obvious solution is to lobby for a program which covers them.
Up 26 Down 27
to Dave on Nov 21, 2019 at 6:54 pm
"The money will be divided based on the number of children up to 18 years old in each community."
It doesn't say 'First Nations child', it says 'children up to 18 years old in each community'. I highly doubt they are going to exclude the handful of white kids in each community. It's there for any who need it or want it, is what it sounds like.
Up 49 Down 16
Rod on Nov 21, 2019 at 6:17 pm
I agree we with you Dave...
Ridiculous. Every kid matters!
Up 84 Down 34
Dave on Nov 21, 2019 at 3:05 pm
So let me get this straight. If two hungry kids are in school, one white and one native the native kid is going to be supplied a meal while the white kid gets to sit there and go hungry?