Building bridges between all communities
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/68073
JUNE 2012 • PAGE 27 The Conservative Party Ignores Food Insecurity The Conservative government Hon. Carolyn Bennett, M.P., M.D. – Liberal Critic for Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development is turning The callous Conservative response was to its back on an estimated 800,000 Canadian households that struggle to put nutritious food on the table. Instead, they are attacking those who raise legitimate concerns about food in- security. Although this "shoot the messenger" approach seems to be the Conservative's standard response to every issue, it does nothing for the 2-3 million men, women and children across the country who are struggling to meet their nutritional needs. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food recently toured Canada and reported, "very desperate conditions and people who are in extremely dire straits." He raised spe- cific concerns regarding Aboriginal peoples including: the high cost of food in the North, the effectiveness of the Nutrition North pro- gram, the socio-economic and cultural barri- ers affecting the food security of those living on reserve, and the jurisdictional buck-passing for First Nations living off reserve. deny the problem and to attack the credibility of the Rapporteur. Minister Jason Kenney lec- tured, "…that the UN should focus on develop- ment in countries where people are starving." Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq went so far as to call the Rapporteur "ill-informed" and "patronizing" for raising these legitimate is- sues. Speaking of Canadians in the north, she argued that, "We continue to live off the land, eat the seal meat, eat the polar bear meat and whatnot." She then tried to deflect attention from the Conservative government's inaction on food security by raising the seal hunt. Both the Liberal Party and I support the seal hunt, but the fact remains northerners are still suf- fering from food insecurity issues. Further, the Nutrition North food subsidy plan has been a failure, has not reduced the cost of food and did not reflect the advice from northerners in its design. Canada has a serious food insecurity prob- Enbridge School Plus Program shines in Swan Lake When the Indian Springs School soccer team steps out onto the field, they'll be wearing jerseys with the school's wildcat logo. The jerseys are a thing of pride in the small school in the Swan Lake First Nation in south- central Manitoba because up until re- cently, the school has had to make do with T-shirts or equipment worn down through years of use. That's changed thanks to a dona- tion from Enbridge's School Plus Pro- gram, which has enabled the school to outfit its sports teams in soccer as well as basketball, volleyball, track and field, and hockey. The jerseys have generated a new spirit in the school which serves more than 70 students from kindergarten to Grade 8 in the Anishinabe community, locat- ed about 170 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg. "Up until now, our school has never had the opportunity to participate fully in sports activities with neighbouring schools because we didn't have uni- forms. Now we can," says Donavon Mann, the school's principal. "Now our students can go out and look like a team. They're feeling more confident." Along with this confidence, Mann says he's noticed a greater interest in the school's sports program, which currently involves 25 to 30 students from Grades 4 to 8. "We're finding that kids that never participated be- fore now want to join in. They see the jerseys and want to be part of our pro- gram." The school's teams, known as the Indian Spring Wildcats, compete in the regional Prairie Spirit School Di- vision. "Our kids really enjoy going to other schools and meeting other kids. And it will make them feel more confi- dent that they have a school uniform this time." In addition to the jerseys, School Plus funding from Enbridge has been used to completely update the school's gym with new equipment, including sports rackets, exercise equipment and hockey sticks and nets. "It's overwhelming to know that our kids can come in and have brand new equipment to use when it's gym period," says Mann. "They're definitely getting a lot of use out of the equip- ment. And it's great to see them smile and laugh when they're in the gym." The new equipment and jerseys have made a difference to everyone, including the school's principal. "External funding can help our students move forward in the par- ticipation of health and sport. With the support of the Enbridge School Plus Program, we can move closer to where we should be in the develop- ment of our children's healthy minds and bodies." ~ Whitney Plaizier – Enbridge lem and in northern communities some esti- mates put it as high as 79 per cent, or eight out of ten people without sufficient food. The refusal of the Conservative govern- ment to admit food insecurity is even an issue was contradicted by Aboriginal leaders across the country. ITK President Mary Simon was crystal clear, "There is food insecurity in the north." She went on to comment specifically on Min- ister Aglukkaq's denial of the problem, "You know, I haven't talked to her so I am not sure why the position was that, because we did work with the regions in the north and we did a report for the Rapporteur and we met with him. So he has first hand information on the situa- tion as it stands right now in the arctic." Manitoba Grand Chief Nepinak said, "I've never seen the minister come to Manitoba to visit the remote communities that I was able to take the Rapporteur to. I would trust the obser- vation of the Rapporteur ahead of the health minister at this time." Further, the AFN provid- ed a submission to the Rapporteur advocat- ing for right to food priorities for First Nations in Canada, including the need to develop and implement a National Food Policy reflective of First Nation traditions and values. On May 16, the Government of Nunavut also stepped up to address the food insecurity issue announcing its plan to create a food se- curity coalition to ensure people are fed prop- erly. Local initiatives are trying to fill the federal void, but where is the federal Conservative government? The Minister of Health needs to admit the serious problems of food security in Canada. She and her Conservative colleagues must put aside the PMO talking points and demonstrate real leadership by working collaboratively with Aboriginal communities, provincial and territo- rial governments, food producers, community groups and experts to develop and implement a comprehensive Food Policy for Canadians. ~ Office of the Hon. Carolyn Bennett, M.P., M.D. – Liberal Critic for Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development June 19-24 in Ottawa, is currently seeking film and video submissions, media art The Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival, submissions, as well as participants for a Sound Production Residency Any film, video, or media work created by Canadian or inter- national Indigenous artists, or that tells First Nations, Métis, or Inuit stories, is eligible. Film and video submissions can be in any genre (documentary, drama, animation, experimental etc.,) or any length. Media art submissions can be in various forms, such as installation pieces, websites, or interactive/digital/con- ceptual/performance art. Already complete or proposed media works are eligible. For more information on how to submit, visit: http://asinabkafestival.org/asinabkafestival/Submit.html The Sound Production Residency will take place during the week of the festival, and is designed for beginners and emerging artists who will learn one of the music industries top production/ recording software's. The residency has 6 spots available, and is open to all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth in Canada be- tween the ages of 18-30. Participants will receive free travel and accommodations, and a pass to all Asinabka film screenings and events. For more information, please visit: http://asinabkafestival. org/asinabkafestival/Events.html Like us on Facebook • Follow us on Twitter! For a subscription call 697-7598 www.firstnationsvoice.com URBAN CIRCLE TRAINING CENTRE INC. 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