Feeding My Family Raising Awareness about the high cost of food in The North! C "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. ”
Feeding My Family Introduction
Feeding My Family 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 feedingmyfamily. org
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) feedingmyfamily. org
Definition of Poverty Statistics 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. ” 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. feedingmyfamily. org
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 feedingmyfamily. org
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. Kugaa r uk, Nu navut in Feb ruary feedingmyfamily. org
Nunavut Sealink & Supply Inc 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. feedingmyfamily. org
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. feedingmyfamily. org
Government Food Subsidy Programs Country Food Distribution Program • Started in 2012 by Government of Nunavut • Funding to help Nunavummiut meet basic food needs by increasing access to country foods • Open to community Hunters & Trappers Organizations, registered societies, municipalities, and Co-operatives • Eligible projects - community freezers, paying hunters to stock community freezers, meet processing equipment and training, and help establishing country food markets feedingmyfamily. org
Government Food Subsidy Programs Nutrition North Canada (NNC) • Started in 2011 by Government of Canada (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada) • Food freight subsidy program that replaced former Food Mail Program • Intent is to provide Northerners with healthy food choices at affordable prices • Freight subsidy provided directly to retailers with expectation that savings will be passed on to their customers feedingmyfamily. org
Why Not Move? ? ? This is home Costs of moving Arctic Sovereignty feedingmyfamily. org
Feeding My Family 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 feedingmyfamily. org
Photos of actual food prices Price comparisons 1. TO RAISE AWARENES S feedingmyfamily. org
In Communities across Nunavut In Ottawa 2. TO ORGANIZE PROTESTS feedingmyfamily. org
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. ” feedingmyfamily. org
Brainstorming communitybased solutions Sharing stories of personal struggles Questioning the effectiveness of Government programs & policy 3. TO PROVIDE A DISCUSSION FORUM FOR NUNAVUMMIUT Organizing spin-off groups to offer immediate help to hungry people Food for Nunavut Group, Nunavut Adopt-a-Family feedingmyfamily. org
4. TO UNITE ALL NORTHERN VOICES AS ONE – WITH ONE STRONG MESSAGE feedingmyfamily. org
Feeding My Family What we heard from our members
It’s a struggle to buy healthy food feedingmyfamily. org
Children going to bed hungry and not attending school feedingmyfamily. org
Having to choose between buying food and paying bills -and. The stress of having to provide for extended family feedingmyfamily. org
One person working to support an entire household -and. Limited employment opportunities feedingmyfamily. org
High cost of freight and airfare Limited variety of foods in the stores High cost of doing business in the North Poor Quality Produce and Meats Overcrowded Households Hard to plan ahead to buy cheaper food from the South when you’re living day-to-day feedingmyfamily. org
High Cost of Living in the North feedingmyfamily. org
Many foods being sold years past their best before dates and the other extreme… Stores throwing away food that is still edible feedingmyfamily. org
What members said about NNC: Nutrition North Canada (NNC) is not working well for Northerners …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. feedingmyfamily. org
Nutrition North Canada (NNC) is not working well for 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. ” www. nunatsiaqonline. ca October 21, 2012 advertisement feedingmyfamily. org
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. feedingmyfamily. org
Feeding My Family 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. feedingmyfamily. org
“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. ” Northerners are coming together as one to have ONE VOICE. Qujanamiik - Thank You
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