Debates of October 30, 2024 (day 35)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over 20 percent of the households in the Northwest Territories struggle with food insecurity, and most of those households are home to Indigenous families. When those children go to school hungry, their academic performance suffers severely as does their ability to interact with their peers. Hunger and malnutrition also have long-term lasting impacts on their physical and mental health adding to the disproportionate numbers of Indigenous children who suffer from chronic illness and depression. This is is because nutritious food is becoming prohibitively expensive, especially in the smaller communities, and they don't have reliable access to the traditional harvested food which sustained generations before them since time immemorial.

So far, the Government of the Northwest Territories has provided $650,000 annually through their anti-poverty to support school run breakfasts, lunch, and snack programs. And this has been supplemented by the federal Jordan Principle program which has funded meals for students as well. But contracts under Jordan Principle are unreliable, and $650,000 here does not go far enough to provide every student with a healthy meal. Yesterday, however, I was pleased to see the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment announce a new funding program to expand the territorial school program with the federal government.

I'm very hopeful that this new agreement will greatly benefit children across the Northwest Territories, but I hope there are provisions to expand school meals for Indigenous students with traditional food source and provide educational opportunities for both culture practices. Imagine school lunch programs which provides traditional meals, Indigenous cultural made with locally sourced ingredients and prepared with care because this is not just about the food on their plate. This program expansion is an unique opportunity to intertwine with traditional, educational, and cultural teaching. We need a school food program that can teach them the importance of balanced diet and the benefits of nutrition and the values of sustainable respect for the land.

By incorporating culture, education to the lunch program, we empower children to do well, to make better choices, but also to embrace their heritage. This approach fosters pride in their culture and nurture strong connections into their culture and community. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I know this agreement is still in the early phase, but I hope to learn more about the benefits it will have on the children in the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh riding and perhaps provide more room for input from my communities. I look forward to asking the Minister for more information later this afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.