Young Inuk gets crash course in feeding hungry children

Angela Analok has seen first-hand the challenges of the north when it comes to access to nutritious, affordable food. Her dad’s family is from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut and two years ago she spent time there meeting family for the first time, familiarizing herself with the terrain, and immersing herself in the culture.

She grew up in the lower mainland of British Columbia so it came as a shock to see what foods are being consumed in the north. Children aren’t starving, said the nutrition student, but they don’t eat the traditional foods of their parents and grandparents. They are replacing that with boxed and packaged foods and not whole fresh foods like we have access to in the southern regions of this country.

Analok purchased four bags of fruit during her stay that was quickly consumed over the course of just one night. She purchased four or five pieces each of apples, bananas and pears, and some grapes, and the cost was $60.

“It’s expensive,” she said.

This experience left her compelled to understand more about food accessibility and so she has accepted a summer internship working for ONEXONE, the First Nations Breakfast Program.

It is estimated that at least 80 per cent of First Nation households experience food insecurity, and that children are at the greatest risk. To address that problem, Sodexo Foundation has joined forces with ONEXONE to provide the internship.
“The Sodexo Foundation is pleased to provide this 2012 internship opportunity in appreciation of its outgoing executive director, Jon Kristjanson,” said Tracey Durand, executive director of the Sodexo Foundation in Canada. “Jon was a driving force in the fight against hunger and under his leadership the foundation donated in excess of 750,000 meals to those at risk.”

The ONEXONE First Nations Breakfast Program in partnership with PepsiCo Canada provides a nutritious breakfast for children each day. Additionally, the program provides funding and logistical support to sustain the high costs of transporting food to these remote communities, guidance on risk management procedures for safe food handling, and nutrition support through ONEXONE’s in-staff dietitian.

ONEXONE, with support from its partners in the Assembly of First Nations and PepsiCo Canada, is currently serving 3,000 breakfasts every school day.
Analok said it is a dream come true for her to be chosen as the intern. Having studied at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in Toronto, Analok looks forward to working with the non-profit, learning things such as menu planning, budgeting and implementation of the nationwide program and service delivery. The breakfast program serves 19 communities in Canada.

She called it a crash course in working with a charitable organization. She will enter Ryerson in September to study working with non-profits.

Analok has five year’s experience as a Dietary Aid in Seniors Facilities, will become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist upon completion of her program at the School of Natural Nutrition in August. She has also worked as a model and has studied acting at the Center for Indigenous Theatre.