Moose stew? Char? Blueberries? Bannock? In L13 — A3, you looked at Canada's Food Guide for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Did you notice that these traditional foods were represented in the guide? In this activity, you will learn about the return to traditional diets and the departure from diets high in starch, refined sugars, and trans fats.     

In the past, the traditional diet of Indigenous peoples was made up of the animals and plants that were found on the land and in the sea. Food came from seals and whales, buffalo, caribou, walrus, polar bear, rabbit, and many kinds of birds. Raw blubber (fat) was mixed with meat or berries. Because the foods were eaten raw or with minimal processing, Indigenous peoples were generally very well nourished.

Above is a traditional fish stew, made today.

As time went on, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples began to add processed foods and convenience foods to their traditional diet. The consumption of foods rich in sugar and additives led to health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

There are barriers to overcome to return to traditional diets. These include:

• being able to access traditional food sources

• costs for gun licensing and hunting

• worry over safety: some forms of game meat may contain high levels of minerals, such as cadmium, which can affect people's health