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A joint message from Richard Jock, FNHA Chief Govt Officer; and Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Appearing Chief Medical Officer​

March is Nationwide Diet Month, and on the FNHA meaning it’s time for our annual Meals is Drugs Wellness Problem! Throughout this month, we invite different First Nations individuals throughout BC to hitch us in sharing and studying in regards to the many alternative meals we eat or harvest in our numerous communities, and encourage you to discover new prospects. We additionally invite you to share your experiences with us at [email protected] or by tagging us on social media @FNHA.

This month, we shall be sharing inspiring tales about First Nations individuals throughout BC who’re having fun with the advantages of excellent well being by means of vitamin. We’ll even be sharing details about sources and initiatives associated to vitamin that have been particularly developed for First Nations individuals in BC.

These initiatives give attention to the normal follow of harvesting and gathering meals, and embrace Elder/Data Keeper-Youth applications the place Elders train Youth about conventional meals – together with moose, deer, bison, wild birds (e.g., quail/grouse/geese), and all types of fish/seafood, berries, greens, roots, and different crops. Elders additionally share details about the lands, waters, and territories. Getting out collectively on the land and waters supplies the chance to attach with the land and nurture our spirits. On this means, harvesting meals is vital not just for nourishment and wellness, however it’s a cultural and religious exercise – a technique to join with one another, our languages, lands, forests, and waters.

With spring on the horizon, our days are getting longer and the climate is starting to heat up. The animals are waking up from their winter hibernation and the birds are flying again from their months of basking within the solar. It is a good time for us to “stir ourselves” if now we have been “hibernating” a bit through the chilly months, and replicate on what modifications, even small ones, we are able to make for our wholistic well being and well-being as we enter a brand new season. Bear in mind, constantly making incremental modifications for our well being over time can add as much as huge advantages!

Our well being and wellness journeys are distinctive to every of us, so the modifications we could need to make shall be totally different. One individual could need to minimize down on their sugar consumption, one other could need to get extra greens or protein of their weight loss program. We encourage you to do the Meals is Drugs Wellness Problem with us, and take no matter steps you’re feeling are applicable in your personal journey. Now is a good time to ask your self what meals you want to eat extra – or much less – usually, and what meals would greatest nourish your physique, thoughts, feelings, and spirit.

Invite your folks, household, co-workers and neighbours to take part alongside you!

Listed below are some issues we are able to all do that month and past:

• Eat extra plant-based meals resembling fruit, greens and wild berries. Frozen fruit and veggies are additionally an important different if recent meals aren’t accessible.
• Participate in harvesting actions on the land resembling fishing, looking, trapping and canning. Try FNHA’s Conventional Meals Truth Sheet and the Canning Information for clever practices and funky ideas! 
• Rethink your drink. Being extra aware of our well being and wellness will be so simple as ingesting extra water and fewer juice, pop and/or caffeine.
• Attempt one of many scrumptious recipes from final yr’s Meals is Drugs Cookbook and submit them on social media and tag us @FNHA or share them right here.
• Sit with an Elder (or higher but, exit on the land with them) and study conventional meals and the place/how one can harvest them in a great way.
• Learn to perceive and use vitamin meals labels right here. This will assist in making knowledgeable meals choices.
• Try the Local weather-Resilient Meals Sovereignty Venture from Southern Stl’atl’imx Well being Society from final yr’s Meals is Drugs Wellness Problem.

We hope this problem provides you the chance to share in regards to the meals and harvesting/cooking practices that assist your wholistic well-being, to strive new meals, to consider any modifications chances are you’ll need to make, and most of all, to get pleasure from spending time together with your family members maintaining a healthy diet meals!

Keep tuned this month and past for tales about conventional looking, berry harvesting, meals programs initiatives, and great new recipes to strive from our companions on the Indigenous Sport and Recreation Council (I-SPARC).

Once more, please take a photograph and share your Meals is Drugs creation right here, tag us on social media @FNHA and @ISPARC and use the hashtag #foodismedicinefnha​ – we need to hear from you!

Wishing everybody a aware March stuffed with Good Meals/Good Drugs!

In wellness, Richard Jock and Dr. Nel Wieman