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Aboriginal School Health Symposium

National InitiativesFirst Nations School Nutrition Pilot

Program

Bryan Hendry

April 21, 2008

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The Reality

“We must admit that First Nations People in Canada live in the most disgusting and shameful conditions imaginable in any developed country.

“In Pukatawagan, in Northern Manitoba, Chief Shirley Castel tells us that some two-bedroom homes have as many as 28 people living in them. People are forced to sleep in shifts and many parents often go without sleep to ensure their children are able to learn and play.”

-- National Chief Phil Fontaine, Canadian Club of Ottawa, May, 2007

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Overview of Presentation

History of the pilot programThe environmental scan background and findingsSuccessful components for implementationWhere we areQuestions

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AFN Public Research

Impact of More Education and Training Canadians were asked the degree of impact more education and training would have on poverty on reserves. Three in four Canadians (76%) said that more education and training would have a major impact on poverty on reserves, while 12% said it would have a minor impact. (Source: SES Research, August 2007)

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2008 federal budget submission

AFN recommends an immediate $1.3 billion investment for education and skills training.

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Make Poverty History

Make Poverty History event, Parliament Hill, October 2007.

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ONEXONE: Life belongs to everyone

ONEXONE press conference with Richard Gere, Petra Nemcova and Wyclef Jean, September 2007.

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First Nations School Nutrition Program

ONEXONE & the Assembly of First Nations partnered with a goal to address & increase the availability of healthy food to all FN children attending school. ONEXONE is a charitable organization that was established in 2005 to support major initiatives that help children find a better world and secure their future. The AFN is one of several partners and charities through which ONEXONE's mandate is carried out. NC Phil Fontaine honoured @ ONEXONE Gala Sept07.

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Background

Purpose of carrying out an environmental scan was to gain a greater understanding of the scope of school nutrition programs and policies for First Nations children. Information was gathered from schools, communities, government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and also from scientific journals, grey literature and online resources. A communiqué/survey was sent to all First Nations communities via fax from the National Chief. Follow up phone calls with organizations across the regions were made to increase response rate.

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Results and Follow-up

Survey respondents include 303 schools.More than 85% of participants reported having a school nutrition program and nearly two-thirds, a school nutrition policy benefiting approximately 35,000 children. Less than half of all schools with a school nutrition program included a physical activity component.

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Types of school nutrition programs offered among survey respondents

156151

125

14

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Breakfast Lunch Snack Other

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Reported funding sources

67

46

121

2429

18

30

66

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Break

fast

for L

earn

ing

Private

Don

ation

s

Schoo

l Boa

rd

Paren

ts/Fun

drais

ing

Band/F

irst N

ation

Health

/Soc

ial S

ervic

es

Nation

al Chil

d Ben

efit

Other

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Five key findings for successful implementation…

Community at its core A wholistic approach Supporting nutritious and universal school nutrition programs Funding for success Sharing knowledge.

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Update

11 programs are partners in the pilot programOn April 1st, 2008 - communities met in Toronto for visioning, networking and learning opportunities at FoodShare Breakfast Clubs of Canada is a partner in implementationPartnership with org. such as PepsiQTG for breakfast products (ie. Quacker oatmeal)

Program Leaders

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A Finding from RHS: children deserve better….

38.2% 39.3%

44.8%

13.1%

19.5%

28.8%

48.7%

41.2%

26.4%

0%

20%

40%

60%

3 to 5 6 to 8 9 to 11

Age group (years)

normal or underweight

overweight

obese

61.8% children aged 3-5

overweight or obese

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Goaltender Carey Price donates $110,000 on behalf of Montreal Canadiens.

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National Day of Action, May 29, 2008

Over 3,000 people marched in Ottawa last year.

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For More Information

Elisa Levi Public Health Research and Policy AnalystAssembly of First Nationselevi@afn.ca416.527.0345