Week 8: Human Nutrition in the

Developing World:
Third World Canada and its implication to South
Pacific Island countries

GE202
2020
Recall from Week 1: Historical impact on health
• Demand for land for sugarcane plantations was a major factor of land
alienation

• Why and how has European colonialism been influencing agriculture,

food, and nutrition in Pacific Island countries?

• Development of plantation drastically changed land use and labour

force in the Pacific Island countries (in particular Fiji due to sugarcane
plantation and Samoa due to copra plantation)

• Transition from subsistence agricultural to commercial agriculture

(mono-crop)

• Start relying on purchased food for daily consumption, rather than

produced in backyard
Canada’s Indigenous peoples
・ Inuit
・Métis (pronounced as “me-i-ti-i”: descendants of
European merchants and indigenous peoples)
・First Nations (North American Indian)

• Population （ 2016 census ）： 1,673,785

• 4.9% of Canada’s total population
• Inuit ： 65,025
• Métis ： 587,545
• First Nations ： 977,230
• All 13 provinces and territories have Indigenous
populations. 50% now live in the city; however,
territories and northern part of provinces have a high
ratio of the populations.
 Third World Canada
• Canada is a developed country (First World) located on the continent of North
America

• So what does “Third World Canada” denote?

• 90% of Canada’s population reside in the southern part of Canada, within 100 km
from the US border.

• The rest of 10% population (mostly indigenous Canadians) scatteringly live in the
northern part of Canada, where the living conditions are almost equivalent, or lower
than, those of developing countries.

• Northern Canada observes a high unemployment rate, poor infrastructure, a high

suicide rate, a high NCDs rate, etc…

• Documentary Third World Canada (5 minutes preview)

• https://vimeo.com/11700860
Canada’s Indigenous health conditions
Canada’s Indigenous health conditions
Canada’s Indigenous health conditions
Canada’s Indigenous health conditions
Canada’s Indigenous health conditions

• On Sandy Lake reserve, ON

• 53 per cent of children had a hearing or vision problem that interferes with their
learning.
• 71 children need glasses for distance, yet only five have been prescribed
glasses.
• 23 per cent had Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder, which affects short-term
memory, hearing, impulse control and intelligence.
• 54 per cent of children said they do not have enough food to eat.
 The Gift of Diabetes
• https://www.nfb.ca/film/gift_of_diabetes/
• Entire film can be seen from the link above (high speed internet
connection required)

• Key messages:

• When members of a particular ethnic group have the same

disease/symptom, it is not an individual problem, but an ethnic
problem.

• Historical trauma (colonial experience) exists in the entire ethnic

group.

• Denial of existence (discrimination and rejection of traditional lifestyle)

causes eating disorder, either anorexia or eating too much, which
results in nutrition problems.
 The Gift of Diabetes
• What are the socio-spatial, historical, and/or economic determinants of
health?
• Historical trauma
• Income inequality
• Social inclusion and exclusion
• Employment and job security
• Working conditions
• Contribution of the social economy
• Early childhood care
• Education
• Food security
• Housing
 The Social Determinants of Health
• Historical trauma
• Pressure
• Denial of their ways
• Enforcement to adapt to Western style
• Residential school (school established by the government to “modernize”
indigenous children)
> Stress, eating disorder, taking too much calorie, etc.

• Historical trauma is cumulative over generation.

• Forced relocation of communities by the Federal Government in the

1960s under the name of “development”
• Grassy Narrows, ON, a destroyed community (high suicide rate, no hope)

• Incorporation into market economy

• Reliance on food from outside the community, loss of traditional skills
Canada’s Northern life
Northern part of the
Provinces of Manitoba
and Ontario

Orange line marks about 100 km from the US border. 90% of

Canada’s population reside in this zone.

Below showing the map of South Pacific approximately in the

same scale.

0 1000km
Living conditions on Aboriginal reserves
• 1,700 km trip from Manitoba’s capital Winnipeg to Churchill
1,700 km trip from Manitoba’s capital Winnipeg to Churchill
1,700 km trip from Manitoba’s capital Winnipeg to Churchill
1,700 km trip from Manitoba’s capital Winnipeg to Churchill
Churchill: a base of polar bear watching
At a supermarket in Churchill
Canada’s Northern life

• In the Sioux Lookout District, ON, there are 49 First Nations

communities across 500,000 square kilometres
• Most communities are not linked by road. Airplanes are therefore the only
available transportation.

• On Kashechewan reserve, ON
• A jar of Cheese Whiz costs $17.39 (27.87 FJD), a box of concentrated Tide
fetches $21.99 (35.24 FJD), a package of 30 diapers sells for $21.99 (35.24
FJD), a 24-pack of Cottonelle, $19.39 (31.07 FJD) and wieners, $11.19 (17.93
FJD).”
Canada’s Northern life
• The experience of a journalist from the south
• A bunch of grapes ($13.42); apples ($15.29) red cabbage ($12.89), bread, pasta:
$342.57

• Pepperoni ($1.50 each), frozen foods ($2.50 for 200 grams) sugar coated doughnuts
($4.99 for eight)

• After two months, she got rush and itchiness all over her body and gained 5.5kg.
• http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/my-four-months-on-a-james-bay-reserve/article2294458/
Canada’s Northern life
• The experience of a journalist from the south
• Why don’t you leave here?
• Then what can I do? I didn’t finish high school and have not worked for 2 year. How
can I find a job?

• “Many children of addicts go on drugs or booze to kill some of the pain. They
join groups of people that do the same.” (Father Paul Charbonneau, Windsor
ON)

• A high suicide rate among Indigenous populations

• http://london.cmha.ca/mental_health/suicide-among-aboriginal-people-in-canada/#.
UxKdUeOaX2g
A way to heal?
• Diabetes is a modern disease which is not always cured by traditional
methods.
• Many prefer treatment with their spiritual and traditional beliefs.
• “If they’re still blaming the white man or the government, they they’re into self-pity
and they won’t make that breakthrough. But when they’re involved with the white
person in recovery, then they have to trust this one and trust that one. They can
make the breakthrough individually and as part of a group, which is so basic to
being spiritual. Self-pity, blaming others, is really what alcoholism is all about.”
(Father Charbonneau)
Marie Wadden, 2008. Where the pavement ends. Douglas & McIntyre, p. 65.

• Most Aboriginal people do not have access to resources.

What are the implications to South Pacific Island
countries?

• Colonialism changed people’s way of life.

• Modernization (incorporation into the global economy) is
influencing food security.

• Communities (countries) are scatterlingly located over

several thousand kilometers, only accessible by airplane.
• Infrequent train (container ships) transports goods.
• People prefer traditional ways of cure.
• Poor access to resources and facilities
Impact on nutrition

• Communities (countries) are scatterlingly located over

several thousand kilometers, only accessible by airplane.
• Infrequent train (container ships) transports goods.

• Transportation costs are reflected in commodity’s price.

• Fresh products are difficult to transport (heavy, quickly

expiring)
• Light processed food is suited for transportation to
isolated communities.

• Historical factors, together with geographical challenges,

have been impacting food and nutrition.
Children’s future?
Children’s future?
Children’s future?

Caring Across Boundaries by Cindy Blackstock and Liam Sharp