Evaluating the Northern Healthy Food Initiative What is the impact on food security in Aboriginal communities in Northern Manitoba? Shirley Thompson, University of Manitoba, NHFI Evaluation Funded by: Institutes of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, Population & Public Health and Aboriginal People’s Health

Objectives Listen to Aboriginal communities issues about basic needs/environmental service deliveries/solutions. Hold workshops to provide training and brainstorm about solutions guided by steering committee of Aboriginal Organizations. Connect environmental services to community economic development Assist where possible with Northern Aboriginal communities to find funding for their community to start a community garden, developing a waste management plan, community plan, community development, etc.

Community Food Security “ a condition in which all residents obtain a safe, culturally appropriate, nutritionally sound diet through an economically and environmentally sustainable food system that promotes community self-reliance and social justice!” Hamm & Bellows

Food security issues High costs Decline of hunting and fishing Trading of traditional foods limited by Indian Act Freight costs High diabetes and obesity rates Treaty Land Rights Northern Store monopoly (Northern Food Prices Steering Committee, 2003)

TO BE REPLACED BY UPDATED SLIDE

Projected Number of People with Diabetes MB First Nations, Source: epiunit/docs/storm.pdf

Environmental Service Delivery “Provide people with proper housing, water, sewage, jobs and the means to provide adequate food and health statistics would improve” (Archibald and Grey, 2000).

The Northern Healthy Foods Initiative (NHFI) Community-based intervention funded by the provincial government of Manitoba, which is designed to increase access to affordable nutritious food in Northern Manitoba communities. NHFI team includes: Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) Healthy Living Manitoba Conservation Healthy Child Manitoba

Making it work: the Community-based organizations (CBOs): 1) Bayline Regional Roundtable; 2) Northern Association of Community Councils (NACC); 3)Four Arrows Regional Health Authority Inc.; and 4)Frontier School Division. CBOs build capacity in local production of food for local consumption, choose nutritional foods, implement strategies to lower the cost for healthy foods, leverage funding for projects, and create food based economic development opportunities.

Solutions that are working: Northern Healthy Food Initiative Pilot project in 17+ communities? 1) community gardens (273); 2) greenhouse pilot projects (3); 3) increasing access to nutritious commercial food (direct buy, retail, federal food mail subsidy, co- ops, etc). 4) school nutrition; 5) increasing access to country foods (hunting, fishing, berries, production, etc). 6) food preservation (freezer, cold cellars, canning) ++Other (poultry production, etc)

Northern Healthy Food Initiative

Sherridon – 10 gardeners Vegetable seeds distributed in early June. – Strawberries & raspberries introduced. – Seed potato donation from Peak of the Market distributed. Planting was delayed due to a fire. Plans for next year include school gardening projects. SHERRIDON

LEAF RAPIDS/GRANVILLE Leaf Rapids/Granville - 10 gardeners School gardening was very successful last year Plans will be made to do more gardening with the school this year.

Moose Lake - 5 gardeners. Vegetable seeds distributed in early June. – Strawberries & raspberries introduced. – Seed potato donation from peak of the market distributed. Plans for next year include further work on the community garden. MOOSE LAKE

BERENS RIVER Berens River – 25 gardeners Vegetable seeds distributed in early June. - Strawberries & raspberries introduced. - Seed potato donation from Peak of the Market distributed. Father Rheal has begun raising goats and laying chickens this year. - Goats are being used for fertilizer and Milk. - Eggs are shared among community members

PHOTO GALLERY TOMATOES CROSSING BAY/MOOSE LAKE WILD BERRIES BERENS RIVER BROCCOLI LEAF RAPIDS COMMUNITY MEMBERS LEAF RAPIDS GOATS BERENS RIVER

PHOTO GALLERY GARDEN PREPARATION BERENS RIVER GREEN HOUSE LEAF RAPIDS GARDEN PREPARATION BERENS RIVER VEGETABLES CROSSING BAY/MOOSE LAKE GARDEN CROSSING BAY/MOOSE LAKE

Standard community garden plot 25x50ft…

POULTRY PRODUCTION Oxford House (layers, meat, turkeys) Nelson House (layers and meat) Pikwitonei & Cormorant (meat)

GREENHOUSES Covering New Ground Project (Thicket Portage, Pikwitonei, Oxford House, Wabowden) Extend growing season Introduce greenhouse concept

TO THIS….

FROM THIS….

Standard size composter for community garden plot composting enriches poor soil and reduces waste. Testing soil

SHARING OUR LEARNING

Start with the youth….

Learn By Observing…

Evaluation measures at 3 different levels 1) Government infrastructure & service delivery model 2) Implementation by Community- based organizations (CBOs). 3) Community, household and individual outcomes. Have food security outcomes improved? What are your communities needs and assets?

1) Government infrastructure and service delivery model A document review, interviews and strategic analysis workshop to track the progress of original aims and expectations of NHFI through policy and operational decisions with 1) government policy-makers 2) government program managers 3) NHFI extension workers

What is a community food assessment (CFA)? A collaborative and participatory process that systematically examines a broad range of community food issues and assets, so as to inform change actions to make the community more food secure. A CFA looks at resources as well as needs. Other elements: participatory focuses on a defined place involves diverse and key participants emphasizes community participation and empowerment examines a broad range of community food security issues

Community Food Assessment Steps Organize Identify a group of key stakeholders Organize initial meeting(s) Determine the group’s interest in conducting an assessment Identify and recruit other participants, representing diverse interests and skills Plan Determine assessment purposes and goals Develop an overall plan and decision-making process Recruit and train staff and volunteers as needed Create evaluation plan

Research Determine appropriate research methods Collect and analyze data from existing and original sources Summarize assessment findings Report Develop recommendations and action plan Develop communications strategy Clearly frame and articulate the message Disseminate findings to residents and policymakers through meetings and materials Develop specific policy recommendations Evaluate and celebrate assessment outcomes

Potential Benefits of Community Food Assessments Involve and Empower the Community Engage residents in collaborative learning about food-related needs and resources Build capacity for effective, collaborative action to improve the community Improve Existing Programs and Create New Ones Identify gaps and potential for improvement Increase community awareness and utilization of existing resources Develop Advocacy Skills and Change Public Policy Build residents’ skills to organize and advocate for policy change Educate media and policymakers with compelling, research- based results Improve Access to Healthy Foods Increase availability of local, fresh produce in stores, schools, etc. Improve the selection of products available in neighborhood stores