MANITOULIN—Noojmowin Teg Health Centre received exciting news last week that will impact the Island community as a whole, helping to create a healthier population, beginning with its youngest residents.
Pam Williamson, Noojmowin Teg executive director, explained that early in the year her organization applied for funding from the provincial government for a new community initiative called the ‘Healthy Kids Community Challenge.’ Ms. Williamson explained it as a program that allows Noojmowin Teg to connect with current partners and potential partners to encourage healthy eating and healthy living.
Last week, they heard they were successful in their $1,285,260 application.
“We knew this would be bigger than just the First Nations population on Manitoulin,” Ms. Williamson said, noting that Noojmowin Teg’s mandate is to service the Island First Nation communities and individuals with health care services.
“We are already connected with the schools and have a relationship with them, and we also work with the Family Health Teams, the Good Food Box program (which enables families with limited financial means to purchase a box of nutritious foods and produce at low cost) and Children in Poverty which aims to see children, both aboriginal and non aboriginal, eating more nutritiously, including growing your own food.”
Once the funding is made official by the province, Noojmowin Teg will then hire someone to coordinate all of the organizations, schools and more and reach out to other interested parties including schools and local food groups.
As part of this initiative, the province will roll out twice yearly advertising campaigns that the program will mirror.
“It is a really large initiative, promoting food and physical literacy,” Ms. Williamson said. “And the Sudbury and District Health Unit is a major partner.”
The program will also include cultural activities with a focus on healthy eating and active living.
Ms. Williamson also has ideas for events concerning eating locally, growing gardens and wild edibles.
“We will be piggybacking on what we’re already able to offer, but with consistent funding over the next four years,” she said.
While Noojmowin Teg is the community challenge lead, Ms. Williamson stressed that the project belongs to the youth of Manitoulin Island as a whole.
Anishnaabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee has been named as a champion for the Healthy Kids Community Challenge.
“It’s not just for First Nations youth, but for the Island as a whole,” Chief Madahbee reiterated. “It’s so crucial, particularly the overall health and well being of the people of the Island. There are more and more cases of obesity and diabetes diagnosed all the time.”
Chief Madahbee said that starting with the younger generation is really beneficial, giving the example of the push for recycling practices in the 1990s. “Recycling really took off thanks to the kids, who then made their parents get involved at home,” he said, noting that he hopes a similar cycle would occur with this program.
“I’m happy that Manitoulin Island was picked,” he said.
The chief said that he has embarked on a healthy eating program himself—no small feat for a man on the road most days of the week.
“In fact, I just saw a nutritionist today to get tips about eating on the road and healthy eating in restaurants,” he told The Expositor on Monday. “They gave me a pedometer too to track my steps in a day.”
“We’re not as active as we used to be; kids too,” Chief Madahbee added. “I think this could be a real positive thing for our communities.”
