(Submitted photo/ NVLL & CRDN COVID-19 Updates)

By Nicole Reis

NORTHERN FOOD SECURITY

Northern leadership collaborate to address issues highlighted by the pandemic

Jun 18, 2020 | 5:22 PM

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) along with the Chiefs of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) say they will continue to distribute critical food supports to all communities in the North West for two months in an effort to limit movement from citizens travelling to access food and supplies.

Richard Quintal, CEO of MN–S told meadowlakeNOW leadership addressed food security by providing over $340,000 worth of food to a number of northern communities to support citizens during the pandemic and an additional $425,000 worth of food security of shipments to all of the communities in the northwest. He said discussions are underway about a food program for families to access better prices among other key issues highlighted during the pandemic.

“What everyone in the South is accustomed to is having access to Costco or larger grocery stores, and this is not the reality in the North,” he said. “It’s the norm for northerners to go to hub cities like Meadow Lake, Prince Albert or Saskatoon and to be able to have their larger groceries done to support their families.”

Quintal explained smaller communities are deeply underserved and do not have access to a breadth of products or building supplies while enduring elevated prices for limited supply. Often, people are forced to drive upwards of 500 km to provide for their families. He said many lessons were learned through the pandemic and leadership intends to address them.

Discussions are underway to understand where focus could be better directed as the economy begins to open up. Health, wellbeing, addiction and mental health support were particularly highlighted during the pandemic and leadership are aiming to have a clearer plan in the coming months.

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Richard Derocher, Vice Chief of MLTC says food security in northern communities requires a long term solution as the virus presented many lessons and highlighted additional issues including over-crowded housing, addiction support and mental wellbeing of youth.

“I’m an advocate for economic development in the north, especially in light of what we’ve seen in terms of what northern folks went through when [travelling South to buy necessities],” he said. “I’m very supportive of a northern economy and in that would include a central area of shopping in the north.”

Derocher said he is hoping First Nation and non-First Nation communities can further develop a northern economy as nearly 20,000 people continue to be affected by a lack of services.

“The perfect spot to enhance the economy would be Beauval, all the highways meet in Beauval to go south, and that would be the ideal place for this to happen,” he said. “It beats coming all the way to Meadow Lake.”

As part of leaderships on-going efforts to support Métis and First Nation citizens, a province wide program launched this week to include mental health stressors and substance abuse challenges.

MN-S is offering Métis in Saskatchewan access to Métis culturally specific mental health and addiction supports for adults, youth and families.

A toll-free line for help navigating mental health and addiction supports is available at 1-855-671-5638 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. central time Monday to Friday. For crisis situations, a 24 hr Crisis Line is available at 1-877-767-7572.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722