Hunger experienced in residential schools linked to present-day health problems

CBC News: The National

14 Aug 201702:11

Summary

TLDRThe script discusses the widespread hunger experienced by indigenous children in Canadian residential schools, where inadequate government funding led to poor nutrition and health issues. Survivors recall scarce, often spoiled food and insufficient caloric intake, contributing to stunted growth and increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The impact of these policies continues, with researchers urging medical professionals to inquire about residential school experiences and highlighting ongoing food insecurity among indigenous communities.

Takeaways

🏫 Muriel's home is always stocked with traditional food, contrasting her experience at residential school where food was scarce and bland.
📚 Hunger was a widespread issue in residential schools across Canada, as reported by researchers from the University of Toronto.
💰 Lack of government funding, poor facilities, and untrained kitchen staff contributed to the inadequate food conditions in residential schools.
🗣️ Testimonies from former students at the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions hearings revealed a grim reality of poor nutrition and spoiled food.
🍖 Meat was rarely served, and when it was, it was often spoiled, according to the accounts of survivors.
🥗 Fresh fruits and vegetables were seldom available, leading to a diet that was far from ideal for the children's health.
🔢 Researchers estimate that many children consumed only 1000 to 1400 calories a day, below the recommended amount for healthy development.
📉 Similar caloric intake in other famine studies has been linked to stunted growth and increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and poor pregnancy outcomes.
🎓 The researchers are urging physicians to inquire about the residential school experiences of former students during health checkups.
🍎 There is an ongoing issue of food insecurity among many indigenous children today, which could have lasting health consequences.
🌐 The script was reported by Kate Kyl for CBC News in Yellowknife, highlighting the ongoing impact of residential schools on indigenous communities.

Q & A

What was the typical food experience at residential schools according to the script?
-The script describes the food at residential schools as being bland, scarce, and often spoiled, with an emphasis on stick fish and a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.
How did the lack of proper nutrition affect the students at residential schools?
-The lack of proper nutrition led to students consuming between 1000 to 1400 calories a day, which is below the normal range for healthy development, potentially causing stunted growth and increasing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and poor pregnancy outcomes.
What role did government policies play in the health outcomes of indigenous communities?
-The script suggests that specific government policies contributed to the poor health outcomes observed in indigenous communities, including inadequate caloric intake and food scarcity.
What is the recommendation from researchers regarding former residential school students' health?
-Researchers are urging physicians to inquire about the food experiences of former residential school students during checkups to better understand potential health issues.
How did the experience of food scarcity at residential schools impact Paul Andrew's behavior towards food?
-Paul Andrew, despite not remembering being hungry, carries a sense of pressure to eat everything on his plate, which has affected his ability to maintain a healthy weight.
What is the current situation regarding food insecurity among indigenous children as mentioned in the script?
-The script highlights that many indigenous children still face high levels of food insecurity today, which could have lifelong consequences.
What was the role of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in understanding the food conditions at residential schools?
-The Truth and Reconciliation Commission provided a platform for former students to share their testimonies, painting a grim picture of the food conditions at residential schools.
What were the factors contributing to the poor food conditions at residential schools according to researchers from the University of Toronto?
-The researchers identified a lack of government funding, poor facilities, and untrained kitchen staff as contributing factors to the widespread hunger in residential schools.
What is the normal caloric intake range for healthy development as per the script?
-The script indicates that the normal caloric intake range for healthy development starts at 1400 calories a day.
How did the script describe the types of meat provided to the students at residential schools?
-The script describes the meat provided as often being spoiled or rotten, with instances of students rarely being fed meat.
What is the connection between the historical food experiences at residential schools and current health issues in indigenous communities?
-The script suggests a correlation between the historical experiences of inadequate nutrition at residential schools and the current health issues faced by indigenous communities, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Outlines

00:00

🍽️ Residential School Hunger and Health Impacts

The script discusses the widespread hunger experienced by students in residential schools, as highlighted by researchers from the University of Toronto. The lack of government funding, poor facilities, and untrained staff led to a scarcity of nutritious food, often resulting in children consuming spoiled or inadequate meals. The caloric intake was significantly below the recommended amount for healthy development, leading to stunted growth and increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and poor pregnancy outcomes. Testimonies from former students reveal the long-term effects of this poor nutrition, with some still struggling with maintaining a healthy weight. The script calls for increased awareness among physicians and the acknowledgment of ongoing food insecurity among indigenous communities.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Residential School

Residential schools were institutions established to forcibly assimilate indigenous children into Euro-Canadian society. They are central to the video's theme as they represent the setting where the experiences of hunger and inadequate nutrition occurred. The script mentions Muriel's nine years at a residential school where food was scarce and often of poor quality.

💡Traditional Food

Traditional food refers to the customary dietary practices of indigenous communities, which are often rich in cultural significance and nutritional value. The script contrasts the lack of traditional food in residential schools with Muriel's home, which is 'always stocked with traditional food,' highlighting the cultural disconnect and nutritional deprivation experienced by students.

💡Hunger

Hunger is a state of wanting or needing food, which was widespread in residential schools as per the researchers from the University of Toronto. The script emphasizes the constant hunger experienced by students, with one testimony stating, 'you're hungry we eat stick fish have rotten,' illustrating the dire conditions and the impact on the children's health.

💡Government Funding

Government funding refers to the financial support provided by the state for various programs and services. The script points to a lack of government funding as a contributing factor to the poor conditions in residential schools, including inadequate nutrition for the students.

💡Poor Facilities

Poor facilities describe the substandard conditions of the residential schools, which affected the quality and availability of food. The script implies that the lack of proper facilities contributed to the prevalence of hunger and the serving of spoiled food to the students.

💡Untrained Kitchen Staff

Untrained kitchen staff refers to individuals working in the food service of the residential schools who lacked proper culinary education or training. The script suggests that this was another factor leading to the poor quality of food provided to the students.

💡Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

Truth and Reconciliation Commissions are formal bodies established to investigate past injustices and seek reconciliation. The script mentions that testimonies from former students at these commissions' hearings reveal the grim reality of the food situation in residential schools.

💡Caloric Intake

Caloric intake refers to the amount of energy derived from food consumed. The researchers estimate that many children in residential schools consumed between 1000 to 1400 calories a day, which is below the normal range for healthy development. The script uses this statistic to underscore the severity of malnutrition among the students.

💡Stunted Growth

Stunted growth is a condition resulting from chronic malnutrition during childhood, leading to reduced height for age. The script cites famine studies in China and Russia to draw parallels with the effects of inadequate caloric intake on the growth and long-term health of residential school students.

💡Food Insecurity

Food insecurity refers to the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. The script highlights that many indigenous children still face high levels of food insecurity today, which could have lifelong consequences, thus connecting past injustices with ongoing issues.

💡Health Outcomes

Health outcomes are the effects of interventions, policies, or other factors on the health of individuals or populations. The script discusses how specific government policies and the conditions in residential schools have led to ongoing health issues in indigenous communities, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

💡Physicians

Physicians are medical professionals who provide clinical care to patients. The researchers in the script call on physicians to inquire about the residential school experiences of former students during checkups, indicating the lasting impact of these experiences on health and the importance of understanding their medical history.

Highlights

Muriel Bit-Cena's home is always stocked with traditional food, contrasting her experience at residential school where food was scarce and bland.

During her nine years at residential school, Muriel Bit-Cena faced hunger due to inadequate food supply.

Researchers from the University of Toronto highlight the widespread issue of hunger in residential schools across Canada.

Lack of government funding, poor facilities, and untrained kitchen staff contributed to the hunger crisis in residential schools.

Testimonies from former students at the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions hearings reveal a grim picture of food scarcity and poor quality.

Former students describe rarely being fed meat, and when they were, it was often spoiled.

Survivors recount the absence of fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets during residential school years.

Researchers estimate that many children consumed only 1000 to 1400 calories a day, below the normal range for healthy development.

Famine studies in China and Russia show similar caloric intake can lead to stunted growth and increased health risks.

Specific government policies are linked to current health outcomes in indigenous communities.

Paul Andrew, a former student, doesn't remember being hungry but felt pressured to eat everything served, impacting his relationship with food.

Researchers urge physicians to inquire about former residential school students' experiences during health checkups.

The ongoing issue of food insecurity among indigenous children is acknowledged, with potential lifelong consequences.

Kate Kyl of CBC News reports from Yellowknife, highlighting the ongoing relevance of these historical issues.

The report emphasizes the need for understanding the long-term effects of residential schools on indigenous communities' health.

The connection between past residential school experiences and current health disparities is underscored.

The importance of addressing food insecurity as a critical factor in the well-being of indigenous communities is highlighted.