Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member's statement, as I mentioned, it's been a long time coming that our country foods are served in the hospitals, long-term care facilities. You hear it all the time. People are tired of hospital food, that same old stuff all the time. Especially when you are recovering from illness or any operations or anything, you want comfort food, caribou meat, moose meat, geese, these sort of wild game. Right now, luckily, we have a handful of ladies in Inuvik who actually take time out of their day to volunteer to cook caribou meat and caribou soup and bannock for people who are in long-term care. I would like to ask the Premier: can the Premier update the House on the status of country food at Stanton Hospital, which is the plan to start there and move it out to communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Traditional foods are presently being cooked and served to the patients by the Indigenous Wellness Program at Stanton Territorial Hospital with the support of Dexterra, the company that provides food services in the hospital. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Premier answered a part of my next questions, but who is able to provide country food to Stanton or any other hospital or long-term care facilities?
Approved owners of wildlife are experienced and licenced community harvesters or hunters and outfitters who harvest and provide gifts of wild meats according to the Northwest Territories Wildlife Act. Renewable resource officers may donate wild game meats which were unlawfully harvested. Fish may be donated by fishers holding sport fishing or commercial fishing licences. Plants like berries, edible greens, Labrador tea, and spruce tea tips may also be donated by community harvesters. I should point out that no licence is required to harvests plants.
Will the country food program be expanded to other health facilities in the Northwest Territories and long-term care facilities?
Operational guidelines for serving traditional foods in Northwest Territories Health and Social Services facilities have been developed. Obviously, food safety has to be taken into consideration. These guidelines are being finalized and will be implemented this fall. Test sites, such as the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Home, have begun to tailor these guidelines in their facilities.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are there plans for similar program as the Yukon to ensure that Indigenous patients can access country foods? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yes. The operational guidelines for serving traditional foods and NWT Health and Social facilities have been developed following the Indigenous foods program at the Whitehorse General Hospital. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
