Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recently had occasion to run into a leader from the Fort Smith Metis Council and he was telling me about a very interesting program. I subsequently did some research and I wanted to share what I found out with Members of this House. It may be something that’s already been shared with this House, but it’s not something that I was aware of, so I would like to do a Member’s statement about that today.
About a year ago, the Fort Smith Metis Council was approached by the Department of Health and Social Services to develop a pilot project for elders that would incorporate traditional foods. In the fall of 2013, the Metis Council received a $55,000 grant. The idea behind the pilot was simple: provide elders with a free year-round supply of fish and wild meat. The project is called TAASTE, which stands for Time-honoured Aboriginal Actions Sustaining Traditional Eating, short form TAASTE.
The bulk of the funding was earmarked for the purchase of new freezers to be stocked with foods donated by local hunters and fishermen. The freezers have been purchased and installed in the Metis Council’s secretariat building.
The success of this pilot hinges on a time-honoured Aboriginal tradition: to give a portion of the hunting harvest to the elders of the community. According to local observers, the program is a godsend because it gives elders access to the type of foods that they were raised on but have, regrettably, gotten used to going without.
Another facet of the project is sending youth out into the bush to learn basic hunting and survival skills, how to set up a tent, how to shoot, clean and cook small game and how to make bannock on a stick. Getting kids out on the land stimulates their curiosity and their appreciation of local foods.
A final component of the project will see greenhouses built in the Northern Lights Special Care Home, giving elders a chance to cultivate some of their own food.
The principles behind the project are sound and surprisingly easy to put into practice. What’s not to like about enhancing community solidarity? What’s not to like about elders having access to healthy, fresh and unprocessed food? What’s not to like about elders lessening their dependence on imported food and redirecting the savings toward other necessities?
Traditional foods are good for them. They are also a source of comfort and pride. I would like to see this pilot project become a blueprint for other NWT communities, so my hat is off and kudos to the Fort Smith Metis Council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
