Traditional Food Healthier for Native Communities: Study

Wide-ranging study will help First Nations make informed choices.

First nations communities that supplement their diet with traditional foods such as berries, salmon, and moose are measurably healthier than those who do not, a new study shows. Photos.com

First Nations communities that supplement their diets with traditional foods such as moose, salmon, and berries are significantly healthier than those who do not, finds an extensive study released by the Assembly of First Nations.

The First Nations Food, Nutrition, and Environment study highlights the value in traditional foods and outlines concerns of declining access to traditional food sources.

The researchers used water, hair, and food sampling as well as interviews to assess the nutritional and environmental status of the communities.

Donald Sharp, one of the lead researchers, said he was surprised to find how concerned many First Nations communities are about food security.

“They did not feel that they had enough access to the foods that they are used to, the traditional foods. That came up pretty strongly,” he said.

Obstacles reported in accessing traditional food were lack of equipment, transportation, time and availability, government and conservation restrictions, and climate change, which affects hunting populations.