The people of Ditidaht First Nation are fighting back against the gutting of financial supports for remote communities by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Last week, 57 on-reserve Ditidaht families each received a post-Christmas Good Food Box as part of a new initiative to help make basic nutrition more affordable.
Last year, the federal government removed the monthly isolation allowance ($191 for a single person) that helped pay for the extra expenses incurred by those on social assistance who must travel to obtain even the most basic groceries and services. Adding insult to injury, AANDC also severely scaled back the incentive hours program that allowed recipients to earn a little extra money.
Ditidaht Social Services Manager Geena Sutherland said it was obvious from the outset that the cutbacks, which were imposed in October, could be devastating for families faced with a regular three-hour round trip to Duncan or Port Alberni.
“Because we are such an isolated community, we decided we needed to start the Good Food Box in Ditidaht and start up a Community Kitchen,” Sutherland said.
Even with the isolation allowances, many families were already living on the cheapest foods available, and that puts people’s health at risk. Sutherland said the immediate solution was to pool resources to avoid some of transportation costs.
“We decided we would put together the most nutritious meals at the cheapest possible budget for people to cook on,” Sutherland said.
Sutherland said the Good Food Box and Community Kitchen programs have been a collaborative effort, with the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council’s Donna Lucas (Child & Youth Mental Health) and Lani McClellan (Supported Child Development) playing a key role, along with help from the Quu?asa team. That is along with Ditidaht Community Services staff and a roster of volunteers.
The food initiatives are part of a larger outreach effort, Sutherland said.
“What we are doing is developing partnerships with any of the mental health staff that we can, building the trust and rapport in the community, getting their faces out there and getting them involved in the community.”
In the long-term, Sutherland said some members would like to grow their own food, but for the moment, the program relies on using available funds to make bulk purchases through large retailers.
“We travel to either Port Alberni or Duncan. We go to No Frills or the [Great Canadian] Superstore,” Sutherland said. “It is a big struggle to get in and out of here all the time. It can take up to two hours to get back with the food on the dirt road.”
Sutherland said that thanks to one Port Alberni grocery store, every family in Ditidaht was able to put a turkey on the table for Christmas.
“Tyler’s No Frills gave us an excellent deal. We purchased 57 turkeys for the whole community, as well as $25 Gift Cards, and distributed them in time for Christmas.”
Sutherland said it proved to be a memorable experience for the many volunteers who took part.
“Some of the elders were just beaming with joy, saying, ‘Oh my God – look at all the food!’ Some of the people we delivered food to, they were literally dancing with joy on their doorsteps.”
Sutherland said since the fall, the team now delivers one Good Food Box per month, with the latest on Jan. 9.
“After Christmas, everybody is struggling,” she said.
