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Feeding My FamilyRaising Awareness about the high cost of food in The North!

 

"It's about people coming together and doing something you were raised up to believe… ...my parents taught me that we have to work together to make sure everyone gets enough to eat.”  

Introduction

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Background

Vast Area – Few People

•2 million square kilometres(same size as Western Europe)

•25 communities - accessible by air and sea only

•Population of Nunavut = 31,906 1

•Population of Pangnirtung = 1506 1

1. Statistics Canada, 2011 Census of Population

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Income - vs - Cost of Food

•In 2009, the median total income for Nunavut was $26,830/year 1

•The current average cost to feed a family of 4 in Nunavut is $437.00/week or $22,724/year 2

1. Second lowest in the country. Statistics Canada, Income Statistics Division, Special Tabulations (Prepared by: Nunavut Bureau of Statistics, November 7, 2011)

2. Nutrition North Canada; Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (Note – does not include High Arctic communities of Grise Fiord and Resolute)

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With current high food prices, many Northerners

would have to spend more than 100% of their

incomes in order to feed their families properly.

Statistics Canada does not collect or compile data

directly measuring poverty in Nunavut.

Definition of PovertyStatistics Canada defines a low-income household as one which spends a much higher proportion of its income on the necessities of life − food, shelter and clothing − than does an average equivalent household. A low-income household is defined as one which spends more than about 55% on necessities.”

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We can’t eat just like our ancestors did •Inuit traditional practices are still strong and hunting for sustenance remains an important part of life

•Poverty is preventing many people from living entirely off the land• Start-up costs are very high:

Snowmobile ($10,000), gas ($400 per trip), kamotik made of wood ($1000), GPS ($200) and satellite phone ($1000), gun and bullets. ($1000)

•Even if you are able to harvest wildlife, it is shared among extended family members

•Traditional Foods harvested from the land now supplement store-bought foods in the North

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Extreme Environment•We have extreme cold conditions, limited sunlight, high electricity costs, permafrost, and blindingly high construction and maintenance costs.

•Many of the usual fixes for food insecurity like agriculture and greenhouses are not possible.

Kugaaruk, Nunavut in February

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Transportation by Sea

•All communities receive an annual resupply by ship

•Most economical shipping method; mainly limited to non-perishable items

•Most people not in an economic position to buy a year’s worth of canned & dry goods at one time

•Inuit value system encourages sharing of resources, resulting in bulk food purchases consumed quickly by those in need.

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Transportation by Air

•Most communities also receive daily air service for passengers and perishable foods.

•Air freight charges and passenger fares are very expensive compared to the rest of Canada – even short distances.

•Over $3,000 for round trip travel from Pangnirtung to Edmonton.

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Government Food Subsidy Programs

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Government Food Subsidy Programs

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Why Not Move???

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The beginning of a movement

Our Group’s Intentions:

1.To raise awareness about high cost of food in Nunavut

2.To organize peaceful protests in communities

3.To provide a forum where Nunavummiut could come together to talk about struggles with high cost of food and the affects that hunger has on their lives

4.To unite Northerners’ voices as one

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2. TO ORGANIZE PROTESTS

In Communities across Nunavut

In Ottawa

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Protesting brings awareness, but goes against tradition

“Protesting is not something Inuit traditionally do. Inuit are taught not cause disruption to others. In the past, this was one of the main consensus:

everyone needed to work together to survive in the harsh environment.”

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4. TO UNITE ALL NORTHERN VOICES

AS ONE – WITH ONE STRONG

MESSAGE

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What we heard from our members

It’s a struggle to buy

healthy food

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Children going to bed hungry

and not attending

school

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Having to choose between

buying food and paying bills

-and-The stress of

having to provide for extended

family

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One person working to

support an entire household

-and- Limited

employment opportunities

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Poor Quality Produce and

Meats

High cost of freight and

airfare

High cost of doing business

in the North

Limited variety of foods in the

stores

Overcrowded Households

Hard to plan ahead to buy cheaper food

from the South when you’re

living day-to-day

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High Cost of Living in the

North

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Many foods being sold years past their

best before dates

Stores throwing away food that

is still edible

and the other extreme…

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Nutrition North Canada (NNC) is not working well for Northerners

What members said about NNC:

…it subsidizes Retailers, not Northerners.

…there’s no way to know how much of the savings are being passed on to us.

…we have no choice but to shop from expensive stores in our communities because very few southern retailers participate in the program.

…the airlines now treat food as general cargo and there are no quality control measures to ensure that food is transported properly.

…the only Northerners who can truly benefit from NNC are the few who can still order from southern retailers.

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Northerners are concerned about recent changes in program objectives on the NNC website:

In 2010 – “The Government of Canada is committed to providing Northerners with healthy food choices at affordable prices.”

Current – “The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadians make healthy food choices.”

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Nutrition North Canada (NNC) is not working well for Northerners

www.nunatsiaqonline.caOctober 21, 2012 advertisement

There is an immediate need for Food Banks

in Northern Communities

What members said about food banks:

…setting up and operating food banks is difficult in smaller communities.

…it’s hard to find a proper and available location for a food bank.

…there aren’t enough community members willing to volunteer to operate a food bank.

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Turning thoughts into action

Our Group’s Current Objectives:1.Encourage Northerners to empower themselves to create independence from within the people at the grass roots level.2.Unify people across the North to share one voice.3.Encourage Government policy-makers and retailers to find better ways to lower the cost of food (NNC is not doing enough).4.Encourage new food suppliers to operate in the North in order to increase competition and lower prices.5.Encourage improvements in food quality through better inventory control, such as:

• Removing inedible and rotting food from store shelves

• Proper food shipping and handling

• Reducing transit time for perishable foods

6.Encourage establishment of more Food Banks. 7.Work with Government and other NGOs to improve the overall quality of life for Northerners.

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“Inuit have long lived to survive – it is in our blood to find food and help others when someone goes hungry. Inuit all over the north have understood the word “hunger” from the past to this day. It is handled through patience, through acceptance, and through innovations. Hunger was fought by our ancestors, and we can fight it again today using different techniques.”

Qujanamiik - - Thank You

Northerners are coming together as one to have ONE VOICE.