Until recently, much remained unknown about the complete diet of Indigenous peoples. Professor Laurie Chan, a toxicologist, led a research project on the nutrition of First Nations. The project was co-led by Dr. Malek Batal from the Université de Montréal and was conducted in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). Health Canada and Indigenous Services Canada provided more than $12M in funding to support this research.
From 2008 to 2018, Prof. Chan’s team collaborated closely with the AFN to conduct the First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study (FNFNES), which involved the participation of 92 of the 630 First Nations across Canada. FNFNES is the first comprehensive study focusing on the “overall well-being and food security of First Nations to address knowledge gaps about the diet, traditional foods and environmental contaminants to which First Nations are exposed.” The analytical facet of FNFNES evaluated the presence of trace metals in drinking water, pharmaceuticals in surface water, mercury in participants’ hair, and the nutritional value of traditional food in diets. Household interviews about food security and lifestyle were also carried out.
Prof. Chan is a proponent of community-based research. “It requires a lot of effort to build the trust,” admits Prof. Chan. However, with support from the AFN, First Nations participants were involved from the initial planning stages of FNFNES to the final interpretation and use of the results. The results showed that traditional foods are superior to store-bought foods, but that environmental and systemic barriers hinder the diet and wellness of First Nations. First Nations, on average, experience more than three times the rate of food insecurity than the Canadian population.
The reliable, evidence-based FNFNES results are crucial to developing and implementing policies and programs to support First Nations. A special issue of the Canadian Journal of Public Health was dedicated to the findings of the ten-year project. Prof. Chan and his team presented their findings at national and international conferences, First Nations gatherings, various government and public health departments, and the Canadian Senate to highlight the importance of protecting the health of First Nations, other Indigenous communities, and the environment.
The active exchange of ideas and knowledge from research to knowledge users stemming from collaborative projects benefits all communities. Prof. Chan hopes that the results from the successful FNFNES will aid in developing new research endeavours aiming to understand and protect Indigenous lifestyles. His team and research program will always champion environmental justice.
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