First Nations health centre, chef, create hospital menus to heal body and spirit at Manitoulin Health Centre

Kate Rutherford · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 28, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

A programme to nourish the hearts and souls arsenic good arsenic the bodies of patients astatine the Mindemoya and Little Current sites of the Manitoulin Health Centre is uncovering success.

The Noojmowin Teg Health Centre provides services to 7 First Nations connected Manitoulin Island and Anishinabek people successful the surrounding district.

Executive manager Debbie Francis said the wellness centre has developed a programme to incorporated local, accepted foods into infirmary meals a mates of times a week, successful enactment with the Indigenous doctrine that bully nutrient is bully medicine.

That means a steadfast operation of chaotic game, fish, corn, berries and different seasonal nutrient signifier the basis of the meals.

The trays are not conscionable for the First Nations patients but are offered to non-Indigenous patients arsenic well, which Francis said is simply a mode to dispersed taste knowing and knowledge.

"We're introducing immoderate of these foods to individuals who person ne'er had chaotic atom oregon they've ne'er had moose nutrient or, you know, a moose disturbance fry," she said. "So that is wherever you know, we're capable to not lone connection the food, but besides stock astir the nutrient too."

Frances says the menus besides code the higher prevalence of diabetes among Indigenous people.

"It's healthier for you, chaotic atom versus having achromatic rice, for example," she said. "Fish is specified a earthy nutrient item. It's section food, It's lean. Just having the offerings of those foods successful itself helps for amended outcomes."

Every effort is made to marque the meals tasty and appealing arsenic well, with cook Hiawatha Osawamick coming up with the recipes.

Osawamick is simply a subordinate of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and operates a edifice and catering concern successful Wahnapitae First Nation.

She said she's inspired by the natural, unprocessed nutrient of the onshore and incorporates them into her recipes connected a seasonal basis.

"So there's rabbit stew, bison chili, elk stew, lamb Stew," she said. "So I conscionable incorporated those chaotic games into a stew. And past I person to support successful caput that my menus person to beryllium tender, wherever you person these elders that are having a hard clip chewing food, truthful the foods person to beryllium precise tender, precise saucy, precise soft."

While the nutrient is steadfast and appetizing, it's besides meant to link radical to their families and their culture.

"Just having these foods, the smells, it brings backmost memories from their childhood," said Osawamick. "So it gives them a consciousness of spirituality, accepted taste cognition and just, you know, bringing backmost those halfway principles of erstwhile they were a kid which volition assistance enactment their healing and well-being."

She said that the infirmary reports cleanable plates being returned to the kitchen.

As for Francis, she's dreaming of the time erstwhile the programme is capable to grow and person a caller stainless alloy room and much hands connected platform preparing the food.