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INUVIK
Proving the way to people's hearts is through their stomachs, a community wellness feast and festival March 27 attracted perhaps 200 people to East Three Secondary School.

East Three physical education teacher Dave Halpine gives Zumba a try during a community wellness feast and festival March 27. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The event was organized by a coalition of local and regional health professionals and government agencies. The goal was to promote healthier lifestyles through better nutrition and activity.

The main sponsor of the event was the Beaufort Delta Health and Social Services Authority, with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and other organizations jumping on board.

Crystal Navratil, a community health representative, said the festival's core message was to promote "healthy choices."

"We're trying to get different options out there," she said. "Some things people are eating are bad for you in terms of fats and sugars and we're trying to show people some healthy things."

Navratil said some illnesses, such as diabetes among aboriginal peoples, are "definitely on the rise."

"If we can get them to have a look at what they're drinking, what they're eating, then all the better education-wise."

Interestingly Navratil said she didn't believe some of the poor eating habits of local residents has much, if anything, to do with the cost of food and the relative lack of variety. Instead, she said it's a reflection of an overall societal problem.

"I think it's more just educating people," she said.

Peter Clarkson, a senior GNWT official who helped organize the event, said "we wanted to show people there are other options out there."

He had been "pushing" for such an event to be held because of the need and that there were government resources available for it.

Some of the other people helping to organize the festival and feast agreed with the pressing need for better nutrition information and education. Kevin Floyd, who works for MACA, provided much of the traditional or country foods served at the feast. Those items included snowshoe hare and ptarmigan, which he hunted himself.

"A lot of community feasts are pretty rich on saturated foods that aren't so healthy. This is just an idea to promote healthy eating and healthy living. Everything we serve tonight is going to be a healthy version. We don't have a lot of deep-fried things."

Floyd said things like food prices and selection was a contributing factor, but he pointed the finger at another culprit as the main factor. Many people, particularly of his generation, he said, simply lack cooking skills and knowledge.

"There just isn't the knowledge of alternative ways of cooking, and the awareness of how to make something that's healthy and tasty. It's common everywhere."

Floyd said another aspect of the problem locally is the decline in the consumption of country foods. That's why the community feast was weighted heavily in favour of those items.

The feast went over very well with the attendees, who were also very happy with the announcement that any leftovers could be taken home with them.

The evening began with a lively and energetic exhibition of Zumba, a dance-based exercise program demonstrated by Rose Constantineau, the Inuvik recreation co-ordinator, and members of the Inuvik Figure Skating Club.

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