Brampton, Ontario - Health Canada - The Government of Canada recognizes that food has significant nutritional, social, cultural and spiritual value for Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The Government of Canada also recognizes the importance of preserving, revitalizing and promoting Indigenous languages.
To make Canada’s Food Guide more accessible to Indigenous Peoples, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, today announced the translation of Canada’s new Food Guide Snapshot (the new image of the Guide) into nine Indigenous languages: Dene, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut (Baffin), Inuktitut (Nunatsiavut), Inuktitut (Nunavik), Michif, Ojibwe, Oji-Cree and Plains Cree.
The languages reflect those most commonly spoken by Indigenous Peoples across Canada, the official languages of the Government of Nunavut, as well as recommendations from National Representatives of Indigenous Peoples and Nations.
Canada’s Food Guide was developed to be relevant to all Canadians and inclusive of the 1.6 million Indigenous Peoples living across Canada. Providing the Snapshot in Indigenous languages will help bring healthy eating messages to many Indigenous communities.
As part of reconciliation, the Government of Canada acknowledges that program and policy-making must support self-determination, as well as recognize the distinct nature and lived experience of First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation. Health Canada and Indigenous Services Canada are committed to working with First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation to support the development of healthy eating tools that meet their distinct needs.
Canada’s Food Guide highlights healthy recipes and cooking methods from diverse cultural backgrounds. The various Food Guide tools and resources offer opportunities to communicate culturally relevant examples of healthy meals.
Canada’s Food Guide is an integral part of the Healthy Eating Strategy, which aims to make the healthier choice the easier choice for all Canadians. The Guide recognizes that nutritious foods can reflect cultural preference and food traditions.
Source : Government of Canada