Local respresentatives and FEHNCY employees held an opening event earlier this week at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

data collection

LLRIB part of nutrition, health and environment research project

Oct 20, 2023 | 2:44 PM

The Lac La Ronge Indian Band is participating in a Canadian research study that will examine the nutrition, health and environment of First Nations children and youth aged three to 19.

A special opening event was held Oct. 18 at the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre with research coordinator Amy Ing, as well as nutrition research coordinator Ariana Lafortune. The event included supper and served as a chance for the coordinators to meet local residents and distribute information about Food, Environment, Health and Nutrition of First Nations Children and Youth (FEHNCY).

“This project is sort of an offshoot of another project that happened over 10 years in adults, so the interest is in children, what’s happening with the children, so the same researchers who were conducting the research study with adults are part of the study with children,” Ing said.

She explained working with locally hired community researchers, the project will collect information from participating households. Air quality monitors will be installed in homes and participants will have their health data recorded such as weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Participants will also be required to provide blood, urine, and hair samples.

“We’re also conducting questionnaires with families to find out about food access, food security, and on the individual side in terms of the children,” Ing said.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Carla Beck wraps up year with plan for next election

Dec 31, 2024

Year In Review

A look back at the tri-community's Top 10 stories of 2024

Dec 31, 2024

HROMEK RESIGNS

Jon Hromek steps down as Sask. United Party Leader

Dec 31, 2024

“The child assessment aspect of it is looking at what they eat, both traditional and store-bought food, what their lifestyles are like, so chronic conditions, how much time they spend playing video games and screentime.”

After this week’s opening feast, FEHNCY members will be back in November and January. January will include a two-week mobile clinic where individual health assessments will be completed.

Throughout the process, there will also be a meeting when data is returned to the community, as well as a closing event.

“Our plan is always to return results back to the community in a form of a community report,” Ing said, adding individuals will also receive a personal report.

“We also provide some information about how to provide future funding based on the findings we come up with, so if there are certain areas where food insecurity is high or whatnot, then we can provide some information about how to apply for future funding.”

–

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com