Title: Growing Stronger: Access to Healthy Foods in Berens River
1Growing Stronger Access to Healthy Foods in
Berens River Nadine Tonn, Community Health
Sciences, Shirley Thompson, Natural Resources
Institute, University of Manitoba s_thompson_at_cc.um
anitoba.ca (204) 474-7170
- Community Champions
- Stella McKay has a beautiful garden and
greenhouse full of fresh vegetables including
corn, carrots, peas, peppers, cucumbers,
broccoli, dill and tomatoes. If youd like
gardening advice, contact Stella at 382-2172. - Farrah Oliver Everette enjoy gardening with
the whole family potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce,
beets, carrots, corn, cucumbers. They are
interested in sharing gardening tips with others
and can be reached at 382-2552. - Gerald Kemp Virginia Bouchie enjoy eating
healthy and staying active! They grow corn,
potatoes, swiss chard, carrots, apples, and
grapes. Contact Gerald for help with the
community rototiller at 382-2161. - Father Rheal Forest has a mixed garden of flowers
and vegetables. He raises 4 goats and chickens
and has veterinary training. Raising animals for
food was once common in Berens River. if you
would like information on small livestock,
contact Father Riel at 382-2069. - Keith Berens has knowledge of traditional
medicines. If you are interested in picking
traditional medicines for your family and the
community, contact Keith at 382-2370. - Programs and Contacts
- Programs are by request to help actions in
communities. Contact for help and supplies - Northern Healthy Foods Initiative (NHFI),
Manitoba Government. Contacts Jennell Majeran,
Manager, Northern Healthy Foods Initiative
(204-677-6677, Jennell.Majaren_at_gov.mb.ca) and
Jessica Paley, Northern Healthy Foods Initiative
(204-945-0569, Jessica.Paley_at_gov.mb.ca). Programs
in other communities include - chicken, turkey (with chicks and feed provided
but not coop) goat and other small livestock
production, - freezer loans for people to buy freezers to store
healthy food, - community or school greenhouses and households
receiving plastic for building a greenhouse, - provision of vegetable seeds, berry and other
bedding plants, and school grow lights, and - an annual workshop in Thompson called Northern
Harvest Forum to provide free teaching to
northern community members about food production
and preservation. - 2. Manitoba Agriculture, Food Rural
Initiatives (MAFRI) provides gardening support,
workshops on gardening and animal food production
(ie. goats, chickens, turkeys). Contact Dan
Roche (204-372-6526, dan.roche_at_gov.mb.ca).
Celebrating Traditional Foods
Gardens
- Introduction
- Like many remote northern Manitoba communities,
Berens River has limited access to affordable,
healthy food, such as fresh vegetables, fruits
and dairy products. - This study asked
- Are healthy food accessible and affordable to
people? - What are the barriers to putting healthy food on
the table of community members? - What gardening and other traditional methods of
harvesting food are occurring in Berens River? - What do people in Berens River want in order to
eat healthier?
- Hunting
- A total of 41 of households received traditional
food from other community members. - Sharing traditional foods is an important act of
giving in Berens River as it strengthens culture,
maintains positive community relationships and
provides families with excellent nutrition.
- Methods
- An evaluation of food access was conducted in
Berens River (2009) using the following methods - A Household Food Security Survey of 50 homes
in Berens River was conducted where households
were randomly chosen to participate. - Stories from community members about gardening,
access and barriers to traditional foods, healthy
commercial foods and community empowerment were
recorded. Participatory video was used to
document your stories.
John Everette skinning a beaver on the trap line.
Figure 1. Households worried money would run out
(blue), money did run out (yellow), and they
couldnt afford healthy foods (green).
- Food Security Survey Results
- Local food production is important as 53 of
households couldnt afford to buy healthy food
(Figure 1). - 57 of households relied on low-cost food for
children and 56 of households couldnt afford to
feed children healthy food (Figure 2). In 41 of
households children werent able to eat enough. - In 24 of homes children were hungry (Figure 3).
- Improving Access to Healthy Foods
- Lowering food prices More information on
government freight subsidies program are needed
in households. - Gardening Community members would like to see
community gardens, family gardens, gardening
workshops, a greenhouse and tours of successful
gardens. Gardening material and teachings about
traditional land activities, food preservation
and gardening are wanted however, most people
didnt know there was training, materials and
programs that could make food production more
sustainable and generate community development at
Berens River. - Promoting Healthy Eating Greater access to
nutrition and health education, cooking skills,
meal planning in the community, hunting, fishing,
trapping, traditional story-telling, food
sharing, and Meals on Wheels would promote
healthy eating in Berens River. - Employment opportunities Employment
opportunities are wanted for food production,
full-time gardening positions, crafts for
additional income and natural resources
management.
Traditional Food Use
This is a traditional smoke house.
- Fishing
- Fishing provides opportunities to maintain a
healthy lifestyle by strengthening families, and
connecting with nature and traditional ways. - In Berens River, 94 of the households surveyed
reported having access to fish such as pickeral
(walleye), whitefish, sauger, sturgeon, and
suckerfish.
Figure 2. Households with children relied on
low-cost food (blue), couldnt afford healthy
foods (yellow), and werent able to eat enough
(green). 15 of households didnt have children.
- Berens River Growing Strong!
- Community members would like a greenhouse in
Berens River. This would provide fresh foods,
training and employment for the community. - A community garden is being developed at the
Health Centre. - There are 14 household gardens and the interest
is growing!
Figure 3. Households where childrens meals were
small (blue), skipped (yellow), children didnt
eat for a whole day (green) and children were
hungry but there was no money for food (purple).