FIRST NATIONS FOOD, NUTRITION AND ENVIRONMENT STUDY

Akwesasne is one of eighteen First Nations communities in Ontario that have been selected randomly to participate in The First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment study. Eight Community Research Assistants (CRA(s)) from Akwesasne start training on October 9th, 2012 to learn how to properly survey community members for this project. Surveyors will have until December 13, 2012 to collect all the data for the study, so we are asking our community for assistance in achieving our goal of 200 surveys in two months. All data collected is confidential.

The CRA will be trained in survey techniques and will obtain individual consent from all participants prior to completing any of the surveys. The CRA will conduct a dietary interview with one adult (male or female) from 200 randomly selected houses from all districts of Akwesasne. If consent is obtained the height and weight of the participant will be taken and a sample of hair will be obtained to determine mercury content. Any hair left from sampling after analysis is complete will be returned to participants. When and where necessary, tap water samples will be collected. Traditional food samples will also be collected for analysis of nutrient and/or contaminant data.

There are five components to the study:

A household interview consisting of a one-year food frequency questionnaire, a 24 hour food recall and a brief social, health and lifestyle questionnaire

A drinking water sample for trace metals

Surface water sampling for pharmaceuticals (from 3 bodies of water)

Hair sampling for mercury

Sampling of traditional foods for nutrient and contaminant analysis.

This project will help us to make decisions on whether or not we should revise some of the food advisories that we have on consumption of fish and other traditional foods including venison, moose, maple syrup, berries, corn, beans, squash and other edible plants and foods that we continue to eat today. Some of the plants that are used for medicinal teas may also be tested.

Help us do this project; please provide permission to the CRA that comes to your home to interview you and collect samples.

Niawen kowa

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM AFN:

The Assembly of First Nations is engaged in a new First Nations Food, Nutrition, and Environment Study that is examining water and traditional foods for environmental contaminants in 18 randomly selected communities in Ontario.

To gather this important environmental health information the AFN will be working with researchers from universities in northern BC and Montreal and will contact your community for help.

For more information call the AFN Environmental Stewardship Unit toll free at 1-866-869-6789 extension 285 or visit our website atwww.afn.ca, or the project’s website at http://www.fnfnes.ca

Further Background Info:

The First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (FNFNES) aims to gather food and water samples and diet information by region and ecozone from 100 randomly selected First Nation communities across Canada. This includes information on food security, current traditional and store bought food use, testing of traditional foods for nutrient values and presence of environmental chemicals, testing of drinking water for trace metals and surface water for pharmaceuticals. This project is jointly run in partnership between the Assembly of First Nations, the Université de Montréal and the University of Northern British Columbia.

Sample collection and data analysis has been completed for 21 First Nations in BC and 9 First Nations in Manitoba. Seven First Nations in Ontario have completed data collection and an additional 11 are participating this fall including your community.

FNFNES hires community research assistants from every participant community in order to create capacity and provide local employment. A paid training session is held for all community research assistants to ensure that they are confident and ready to collect data through administration of a household survey.

Each partner First Nation collects samples of traditional foods from their community to ship for analysis of chemical contaminants. Based on the nutritional information collected through the household surveys, results will be presented for each community and for the region as a whole on food security and completeness of diet. Water is collected from households to test for trace metals such as lead, arsenic, etc. Participants can also provide a small sample of their hair for mercury analysis. If any cases of an exceedance are found, the results are immediately communicated to the individual for further action.

Protecting the confidentiality of participating individuals and First Nations is paramount. Although each participant First Nation is recognized for their contributions and partnership in the study, community results will only be provided and explained separately to each community.

Upon analysis of the community’s data, a presentation will be made to the community by a nutritional research coordinator who will be available to highlight key findings for the community, interpret results, and answer any questions the community members may have.

Each participating First Nation is considered to be the owner of their data which will be returned to the community following data analysis. Training is also provided to a designated individual(s) from each First Nation in how statistical analysis can be used to further analyze their own data. The Assembly of First Nations is the data custodian of the data, should any First Nation require additional access to their own data. This data is securely stored and is only available upon proper request from the First Nation to which it belongs.