FNFNES Manitoba Regional Report ENGLISH

Funding for this study was provided by Health Canada. The information and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors/researchers and do not necessarily reflect the official views of Health Canada. b Results from Manitoba (2010) First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (FNFNES): Results from Manitoba (2010) by University of Northern British Columbia Université de Montréal and Assembly of First Nations is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. This report can be cited as: Laurie Chan, Olivier Receveur, Donald Sharp, Harold Schwartz, Amy Ing, Karen Fediuk, Andrew Black and Constantine Tikhonov. First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (FNFNES): Results from Manitoba (2010). Prince George: University of Northern British Columbia, 2012. Print. c In today’s world we are constantly being made environment are now being researched with our involvement in a culturally appropriate and Forward from the AFN awareNational of the increasing Chief use of chemicals, some of respectful manner. It is now up to us to take these results to all First Nations communities, which are considered dangerous to our health and to ensure that our people are informed and prepared to advocate for action to address the the environment. This study was initiated due to concerns raised in this report. concerns having been made by First Nations about the safety of traditional foods being harvested. This report presents the results for the FNFNES for Manitoba. It is the second regional report of While similar studies have been conducted for the this 10 year, nationally scoped study, and has highlighted some of the same challenges that general Canadian population, the First Nations were identified in the BC Regional Report which has already been published. The work done in Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (FNFNES) Manitoba has provided further proof of the scope and scale of problems we as First Nations represents the first time a Total Diet Study and have long been aware of in our communities such as food security and dietary issues resulting sampling for environmental contaminants in from reduced access to traditional foods. This study has also sought to include emerging traditional foods have been conducted on a national areas of concern such as pharmaceuticals in surface water, chemical contaminants for which scale for First Nations living on reserve. guideline levels have not yet been set and the impact of climate change. The information contained within this report will serve as an important baseline for future studies. The FNFNES began as a resolution passed by the Chiefs-in-Assembly in Halifax, 2007. Since data I hope that this report will serve as a catalyst to spur action in First Nation communities in collection began in 2008 in British Columbia (BC), order to address food security issues, improve nutrition, increase access to traditional foods, the study has maintained interest and momentum raise awareness about chemical contaminants, and finally to deal with infrastructure problems as implementation moves across Canada. Although the FNFNES is considered an equal associated with access to safe drinking water. partnership between researchers at the University of Northern BC, Université de Montréal and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), it is a participatory project that involves First Nation Thank you, first and foremost, to all First Nations who participated in this study, the Community communities in all aspects including the field work, site selection for surface water sampling Research Assistants, Community Coordinators, Nutrition Research Coordinators and all and choosing which traditional foods will be tested. To build capacity, Community Research others for their significant contributions to this study and regional report. The AFN is pleased Assistants are recruited and trained to carry out the surveys and to collect samples, and to be a part of this study and we look forward to Health Canada’s continued commitment community based data custodians are trained to analyze and use the collected data for the to addressing First Nations’ environmental and nutritional concerns by supporting research benefit of their community. It has been the interest and commitment of participating First projects that are conducted in full partnership with First Nations. Nation communities and individuals which has truly led this study. The integral involvement of First Nations in this landmark study has meant that First Nations’ questions and concerns are being addressed regarding nutrition, safety of traditional foods, drinking water quality and exposure to mercury. These have included concerns on the safety Shawn A-in-chut Atleo and benefits of traditional foods versus market foods, food security and diet quality issues. National Chief Thanks to studies such as the FNFNES, First Nations’ concerns regarding our health and Assembly of First Nations ii Results from Manitoba (2010) It is my pleasure to introduce the FNFNES Regional Report for Manitoba. Manitoba was the for policies and changes that will reduce barriers at Forwardsecond region selectedfrom theto participate Manitoba in this nationally-scoped Regional research Chief study. Overall our the regional level in order to promote healthy First communities have been enthusiastic about this project and were interested to learn more Nations. about their traditional foods, nutrition and environment. These results on a regional level provide us with This study was carried out in full partnership with the AFN and included First Nations at the important baseline information that can be used community level through all stages. First Nations had the opportunity to provide input into the in the future to monitor how changes in the methodology of the study, where and which samples would be taken and even an opportunity environment may impact the safety of our traditional to comment on the final drafts of their report – a discussion of which is contained within this foods and water sources. This will be especially regional report. useful as climate change and increased exploration, development and extraction of natural resources This report has raised some serious issues in our communities which we as First Nations takes place on our traditional lands. With this are not unaware of. It is good to have this data that was collected in a scientifically rigorous baseline data we can now propose and design manner in order to back up what we have been saying for years. According to this report, food programs and further research that will effectively security, diabetes and body weight are major issues, certain nutrients are not consumed in build upon the results this report. sufficient amounts, pharmaceuticals are being found in the surface water in our communities, and chemical contaminants are being found in our traditional foods. There are also positives. I look forward to reviewing these results and hope Trace metals in tap water were not found to be of concern despite the recommendation for that First Nations in Manitoba will use this information further monitoring, traditional foods were found to be safe to eat and contributed to better to chart a way forward for healthier communities. Thanks to all First Nations who were involved nutrition and exposure to mercury was not found to be of major concern in the communities in this research, from the participants to the community coordinators, we now have this surveyed. important report that will benefit First Nations across Manitoba. Multiple barriers to accessing traditional foods were identified which consequently have negative impacts upon nutrition, food security and our traditional way of life. Identifying these barriers through studies such as this one will help our communities come up with their own solutions. Improving access to traditional foods will benefit not only food security, but also the Bill Traverse nutritional and cultural health of our communities. First Nations rely on access to traditional Regional Chief, Manitoba foods for many of our teachings, for maintaining our culture, to provide healing in our Assembly of First Nations communities and of course, for a balanced, healthy meal. This study will allow us to advocate ii Laurie Chan, Ph.D. Harold Schwartz, Ph.D. PRINCIPALProfessor andINVESTIGATORS BC Leadership Chair CO-INVESTIGATORSManager, Chemical Safety of Traditional Foods School of Health Sciences Primary Health Care and Public Health Directorate University of Northern British Columbia First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Health Canada Olivier Receveur, Ph.D., M.P.H., Dt. P. Professor, Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine Constantine Tikhonov MD, MHA Université de Montréal A/Director, Environmental Health Research Division Primary Health Care and Public Health Directorate First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Donald Sharp, Dr.P.H. Health Canada Former A/Director, Environmental Stewardship Unit Assembly of First Nations iiiiii Results from Manitoba (2010) The authors of this report would like to thank the Chief and Council of the following Manitoba We are grateful to the following Environmental Health Officers for their assistance with the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSFirst Nations partners whose support made this work possible: surface water sampling: Swan Lake First Nation Hollow Water First Nation Rick Orto Brad Carr Crystal Bull Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation Cross Lake Band of Indians Tim Ness Mike Fontaine Jennifer Nyhoff Pine Creek First Nation Sayisi Dene

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